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[155] From all this we conclude that the duties scribed by justice must be given precedence the pursuit of knowledge and the duties imp by it; for the former concern the welfare of fellow-men; and nothing ought to be more sacred in men's eyes than that.

44. And vet scholars, whose whole life and1 interests have been devoted to the pursuit of knowledge, have not, after all, failed to contribute to the advantages and blessings of mankind. For they have trained many to be better citizens and to render larger service to their country. So, for example, the Pythagorean Lysis taught Epaminondas of Thebes; Plato, Dion of Syracuse; and many, many others. As for me myself, whatever service I have rendered to my country—if, indeed, I have rendered any—I came to my task trained and equipped for it by my teachers and what they taught me.

1 Wisdom in the service of Justice.

M. Tullius Cicero. De Officiis. With An English Translation. Walter Miller. Cambridge. Harvard University Press; Cambridge, Mass., London, England. 1913.

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load focus Introduction (Walter Miller, 1913)
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hide References (11 total)
  • Cross-references in indexes to this page (11):
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Dion
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Epaminondas
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Lysis
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Marcus Cicero
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Philosophers
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Plato
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Public Service
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Pythagorean
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Society
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Syracuse
    • M. Tullius Cicero, De Officiis: index, Thebes
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