On Duties
On Duties
Book Brief
Beta243
Book • Nonfiction
Rome • 1st Century BCE
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In On Duties, Marcus Tullius Cicero explores moral and ethical responsibilities in public and private life. The text serves as a guide for individuals on how to balance personal interests with societal obligations, emphasizing virtues like justice, wisdom, and courage as essential in fulfilling one's duties to both self and community.
Informative
Contemplative
Inspirational
Reviews & Readership
2,698 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
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Review Roundup
Cicero's On Duties is praised for its timeless exploration of ethics and moral responsibility, drawing from Stoic philosophy. Readers appreciate its insightful discourse on personal and civic duty. However, some find its ideas occasionally idealistic and its ancient context challenging for modern readers. Overall, it remains a significant work in moral philosophy.
Who Should Read On Duties?
Readers who enjoy On Duties by Cicero typically appreciate philosophy, ethics, and classical literature. They are likely fans of works such as Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and Seneca's Letters from a Stoic, valuing discussions on moral duty and virtuous living.
2,698 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
On Duties by Marcus Tullius Cicero was written in 44 BC, during a turbulent period in Roman history shortly after Julius Caesar's assassination.
The work is structured as a letter to Cicero's son, Marcus, who was studying philosophy in Athens at the time.
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Cicero's ideas in On Duties have influenced Western thought for centuries and were particularly admired during the Renaissance for their exploration of moral and ethical behavior.
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243
Book • Nonfiction
Rome • 1st Century BCE
Adult
18+ years
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