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What Would Stoics Do

Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE

On Duties 3.80 — Cicero (on the Stoics)

Translation by Walter Miller (1913)

Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 3.80

Evea our kinsman Gratidianus failed on one occasion to perform what would be a good man's duty: in his praetorship the tribunes of the people summoned the college of praetors to council, in order to adopt by joint resolution a standard of value for our currency; for at that time the value of money was so fluctuating that no one could tell how much he was worth. In joint session they drafted an ordinance, defining the penalty and the methods of procedure in cases of violation of the ordinance, and agreed that they should all appear together upon the rostra in the afternoon to publish it. And while all the rest withdrew, some in one direction, some in another, Marius (Gratidianus) went straight from the council-chamber to the rostra and published individually what had been drawn up by all together. And that coup, if you care to know, brought him vast honour; in every street statues of him were erected; before these incense and candles burned. In a word, no one ever enjoyed greater popularity with the masses.
— Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 3.80 · tr. Walter Miller (1913)Read in context →

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Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 3.80, tr. Walter Miller (1913)

https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/3.80

Cicero, On Duties (De Officiis), tr. Walter Miller (Loeb, 1913). Text: Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sources and licences

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In plain English

AI-written notes

Gratidianus slipped away from a joint decision and announced it alone as if it were his own, winning enormous popularity and public statues. It is a case of grabbing the credit for a group's work, a small unfairness that brought a big reward.

Older wording

“rostra”
— the speakers' platform in the Roman forum
“ordinance”
— an official decree
“praetorship”
— the office of praetor, a senior Roman magistrate

Themes and situations

  • Ambition and success
  • Reputation and others' opinions
  • Justice and fairness
  • An ethical dilemma
  • Conflict at work

Quote cards

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Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 3.80, tr. Walter Miller (1913)