His detection is not by any means the easiest thing in the world, for he often covers his servility under the guise of contradiction, and flatters by pretending to dispute, and then at last giving in and allowing himself to be beaten, that the person hoodwinked may think himself to have been the clearer-sighted.
Describing the sophisticated tactics of a subtle flatterer, Cicero explains how such a person feigns disagreement and then yields, making the target believe they have demonstrated superior insight.
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Thus apparent expediency is outweighed when placed in the balance against moral rectitude.
For no phase of life, whether public or private, whether in business or in the home, whether one is working on what concerns oneself alone or dealing with another, can be without its moral duty; on the discharge of such duties depends all…
From this attitude come greatness of soul and a sense of superiority to worldly conditions.
Moreover, all our thought and mental activity will be devoted either to planning for things that are morally right and that conduce to a good and happy life, or to the pursuits of science and learning.
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