The Right Thing to Do: Cicero’s De Officiis

Cicero’s De Officiis is, on its surface, a letter from Cicero to his son Marcus. It was, however, clearly intended for a much wider audience. The essay is about making decisions: how should we distinguish between right and wrong, and how should we determine, in any set of circumstances, how to behave? Cicero’s essential message is clear: if we are always kind and considerate of other people, we cannot go wrong, but, if we think only of ourselves, we will always go wrong. This translation of Cicero’s work is intended for anyone interested in Roman history or ancient philosophy, in reading the classics in translation, or in contemplating how to do the right thing.

Special Features

• Introduction to Cicero’s De Officiis
• Clear striking rendition
• Three Appendices: Glossary of Names, Place, and Technical Terms, the Significant Dates in Roman History and the Life of Cicero, and Further Reading