An excellent study of ethics, if one desires to maintain some standards in a world gone debauched by liars, prostitutes, profiteers, thieves, cleverness confused for wisdom and sedition and corruption confused for thrift and acumen. Oftenwise people behave like they do because they are taught to in the process of socialization amongst peers in such a manner. Rarely ever do they inspect with reason why to behave ethically, and what are the ideas they truly cherish. The pillars upon which both philosophy, theology and government should stand is reason that is ethically, morally grounded. In similitude to rhetorics, "one cannot speak well if he is not a good man in all honesty", he may appear as good or worth adoration to the inexperienced, but the wise will peel off his masks to the utter core. That is especially worth remembering among the rising populist autocratic sentiment, seducing peoples into the lowest common denominator and praising crooks that from a public treasury spoil the populace from the latter's own pocket to their utter demoralization. This work is a benchmark for ethics that are pertaining to the waning Republic, but they also stand as a testimony to a great, begrieved man. Marcus Tullius' son for whom this work was written as a didactic teaching did not spoil the teachings of Cratyllus and his father, scattering them to four winds, he excelled in a manner that would make his father proud. My favorite idea from the whole book is that "one should not measure his strength by others' weakness, but by his own character" ( )

An excellent book on moral duty written by Cicero to his son, also named Cicero, during the times of Julius Caesar, Pompy, and Marc Anthony. Essentially, what is expedient isn't always moral. His book would put to shame our own Congress and countless so-called world and "thought" leaders of today. An important treatise then, and now. ( )

An excellent study of ethics, if one desires to maintain some standards in a world gone debauched by liars, prostitutes, profiteers, thieves, cleverness confused for wisdom and sedition and corruption confused for thrift and acumen. Oftenwise people behave like they do because they are taught to in the process of socialization amongst peers in such a manner. Rarely ever do they inspect with reason why to behave ethically, and what are the ideas they truly cherish. The pillars upon which both philosophy, theology and government should stand is reason that is ethically, morally grounded. In similitude to rhetorics, "one cannot speak well if he is not a good man in all honesty", he may appear as good or worth adoration to the inexperienced, but the wise will peel off his masks to the utter core. That is especially worth remembering among the rising populist autocratic sentiment, seducing peoples into the lowest common denominator and praising crooks that from a public treasury spoil the populace from the latter's own pocket to their utter demoralization. This work is a benchmark for ethics that are pertaining to the waning Republic, but they also stand as a testimony to a great, begrieved man. Marcus Tullius' son for whom this work was written as a didactic teaching did not spoil the teachings of Cratyllus and his father, scattering them to four winds, he excelled in a manner that would make his father proud. My favorite idea from the whole book is that "one should not measure his strength by others' weakness, but by his own character" ( )

Absolutely one of the most essential classical texts and Tully's masterpiece. He discusses what is honorable, what is expedient, and the presenting dilemma when the honorable and expedient conflict. ( )

Cicero's letters to his son on the duties of a Roman--long claim that nothing immoral is truly advantageous