Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE
On Duties 3.22 — Cicero (on the Stoics)
Translation by Walter Miller (1913)
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 3.22
Suppose, by way of comparison, that each one of our bodily members should conceive this idea and imagine that it could be strong and well if it should draw off to itself the health and strength of its neighbouring member, the whole body would necessarily be enfeebled and die; so, if each one of us should seize upon the property of his neighbours and take from each whatever he could appropriate to his own use, the bonds of human society must inevitably be annihilated. For, without any conflict with Nature's laws, it is granted that everybody may prefer to secure for himself rather than for his neighbour what is essential for the conduct of life; but Nature's laws do forbid us to increase our means, wealth, and resources by despoiling others.
Cite this passage
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 3.22, tr. Walter Miller (1913)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/3.22
Cicero, On Duties (De Officiis), tr. Walter Miller (Loeb, 1913). Text: Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA body part that grabbed the strength of its neighbour would weaken and kill the whole body, and a society where each person takes whatever they can from others would destroy itself too. Looking after your own basic needs is fine; enriching yourself by taking from others is not.
Older wording
- “despoiling”
- — robbing or plundering
- “enfeebled”
- — made weak
Themes and situations
- Justice and fairness
- Community and our duty to others
- Wealth and poverty
- Nature and the cosmos
- An ethical dilemma
- Money, status and wanting more
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