The first, which holds that our regard for ourselves is to be the measure of our regard for our friend, is not true; for how many things there are which we would never have done for our own sakes, but do for the sake of a friend!
In his exploration of the nature of friendship, Cicero challenges the idea that self-love should be the ultimate measure of affection for a friend.
Share
More from Cicero
But for all cases we have one rule, with which I desire you to be perfectly familiar: that which seems expedient must not be morally wrong; or, if it is morally wrong, it must not seem expedient.
So, then, it is truth that is, as it were, the stuff with which this virtue has to deal and on which it employs itself.
In my opinion, at least, we should always strive to secure a peace that shall not admit of guile.
The first office of justice is to keep one man from doing harm to another, unless provoked by wrong; and the next is to lead men to use common possessions for the common interests, private property for their own.
Other voices in this conversation
