On Duties

by Cicero · 44 BCE

Walter Miller's translation, 1913. 3 parts, about 94,680 words, 7 hours of reading. Source edition.

Passages the guide marks

The foundation of justice is good faith, that is, steadiness and truthfulness in what is said and agreed.
Book I, 23 · Read it in Book I Moral Goodness
There are two ways of settling a dispute: by discussion and by force. Since the first is proper to man and the second to beasts, we should resort to the second only when the first is not available.
Book I, 34 · Read it in Book I Moral Goodness
If men would keep faith with one another, there would be no need of arbitration, and if all were just there would be no need of courts.
Book III, 17 and following · Read it in Book III the Conflict Between the Right and the Expedient
For if wrong is to be done, let it be done for the sake of ruling; in all else keep faith.
Book III, 82 · Read it in Book III the Conflict Between the Right and the Expedient

About this text

Public domain in the United States; the Project Gutenberg edition is free of restrictions under the Project Gutenberg License. Translated by Walter Miller. It is not the edition the programs assign; the guide names that one, and the buy links there point at it.

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