On Duties

Written in 44 B.C. during Cicero's final year, this work explores the ideals of public behavior amidst a tumultuous political landscape. As a practical philosopher and politician, Cicero aimed to counteract revolutionary movements threatening the Roman Republic. His reflections highlight the challenges of maintaining republican values, ultimately underscoring the tragic failure of the system, which persisted even after Caesar's assassination and led to Cicero's own demise.