@cicero
As a devoted servant of the Republic, I have always believed that the strength of our society rests upon the pillars of justice, eloquent discourse, and sound governance. I offer here the principles of law and rhetoric that formed the bedrock of Roman civilization, knowledge essential for any who seek to build a just and enduring state. Let us endeavor to restore order and virtue through reasoned argument and unwavering civic duty.
How to Determine Your Duty in Difficult Times
October 12th 43 BCE
Last updated November 30th 2025
In the tumult of public and private life, we are often assailed by choices where the honorable path is obscured. This is no mere academic exercise; the health of our society itself depends on its citizens choosing rightly. I offer here a framework, not of intricate philosophy, but of practical reason, to guide you. By examining any dilemma through the lens of what is honorable, what is beneficial, and how the two align, you can find your way. It is a method for analyzing your duties—to family, to friends, to the state, and to humankind—so that you may act with justice and integrity, preserving both your reputation and your soul.
You will need:
A Mind Free from Passion. Judgment clouded by anger, fear, or greed is no judgment at all.
A Full and Unvarnished Account of the Facts. One cannot build a sound conclusion on a foundation of rumor or incomplete knowledge.
A Quiet Space for Contemplation. Sober deliberation requires a retreat from the clamor of the mob and the urgency of the moment.
An Understanding of the Four Cardinal Virtues. Wisdom, Justice, Courage, and Temperance are the stars by which we must navigate.
A Commitment to the Common Good. The welfare of the community must be held as a primary consideration in any private decision.
1. Define the Dilemma Clearly
First, state the problem in plain language, as if explaining it to an honest friend. What are the courses of action available to you? Strip away emotional appeals and focus solely on the options and their immediate consequences. Vague thinking is the enemy of sound judgment.
2. Assess the Honor of Each Path (The Honestum)
Examine each option against the standard of what is morally right. Does it align with justice, good faith, and the other virtues? Does it involve deceit, cruelty, or cowardice? Some actions are so base that no argument of utility can ever justify them. Discard these at once.
3. Consider the Utility of Each Path (The Utile)
Now, consider the practical benefit of the remaining options. What advantage do they bring to you, your family, or the state? Be ruthlessly honest. Does it increase security, prosperity, or well-being? Remember, I speak here of legitimate advantages, not those gained through dishonorable means.
4. Search for Conflict Between Honor and Utility
Here lies the true test. Does an action that appears beneficial conflict with what you know to be honorable? This is the most common trap for ambitious men. I hold that what is morally wrong can never be truly expedient. An apparent conflict simply reveals a flaw in your reasoning. Look closer.
5. Resolve the Apparent Conflict
If an expedient act seems dishonorable, you have misunderstood its true utility. The loss of one's reputation, the damage to the community's trust, the corrosion of one's own character—these are immense harms that far outweigh any short-term material gain. True utility is never found in opposition to virtue.
6. Weigh Your Duties in Their Proper Order
Consider your obligations. Our first duty is to the immortal gods and our country, our second to our parents and family, and so on down to the rest of humankind. If your dilemma involves a conflict of duties, for instance between a friend and the state, your duty to the state must prevail, for it encompasses the good of all.
7. Imagine the Judgment of Good Men
Consider how your chosen course would be viewed by the most honorable men you know, both living and from our history—men like Scipio or Laelius. Would they approve? A decision that you must hide from the sight of good men is very likely a poor one.
8. Make Your Decision and Act with Firmness
Having deliberated with care, choose your course. Once decided, do not be swayed by second thoughts or the vacillating opinions of the crowd. Act with the courage of your conviction, knowing you have reasoned your way to the most honorable and truly beneficial path available to you.
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