Analysis+and+Themes

Author's Purpose: Cicero wrote this book to discuss the moral obligations of men. He focuses on situations where an act that appears expedient is not right. 

Thesis: Throughout the book, Cicero indirectly discusses Republican ideals. He feels that the state should be the most important thing to every individual, and most of the duties he mentions have to do with being a good citizen.

Cicero claimed that “the right is the supreme good in such a sense that all things else placed in the opposite scale are of insignificant moment, it is beyond question that expediency can never clash with the right” (Cicero, Ch.3). If a situation arises in which expediency seems to conflict with virtue, then it only has the appearance of being expedient because WHAT IS EXPEDIENT IS ALWAYS MORALLY RIGHT AND WHAT IS MORALLY RIGHT IS ALWAYS EXPEDIENT.

It is not possible for a common man to understand what is truly good so he must perform “secondgrade duties” (Cicero, Ch.4). Only wise men know the true meaning of goodness and can perform their proper duties. Some people that use trickery to deceive others think that they are wise, but they are wrong because the purpose of wisdom is to distinguish between good and evil.

Is a wise man a good man? What defines a good man?

A good man carefully observes his duties and does what is right. He will not even hesitate when choosing between something that seems expedient and something that is morally right. He will also not be concerned with rewards because “those who measure everything by the standard of gain and personal convenience, nor are willing that that these goods should be outweighed by virtue are accustomed, in their plans of life, to compare the right with what they deem expedient; good men are not so accustomed” (Cicero, Ch.4).



Men are naturally drawn to things that are expedient, but they do not have to sacrifice expediency to be good men. They only have to recognize the difference between what is truly expedient and what is not. This is not always easy because many cases arise where an immoral act seems expedient and the advantages of sacrificing moral rectitude seem great. Examples “The real question is not whether the right is to be sacrificed on account of the greatness of the benefit to be gained, but whether that which seems expedient can be done without guilt” (Cicero, Ch.10).

What are the consequences for doing something that appears expedient but is wrong?

Why should people try to do what is right?

It is important for men to help each other. If people were selfish, society could not function. This is why the most important virtue is to help others. This does not necessarily mean that men should be self-sacrificing. Everyone should try to better their life and become wealthy as long as they do not harm others in the process.

In special circumstances, what is normally considered wrong is not wrong. If something that is morally wrong is done for the good of the state it is acceptable because what is inexpedient for the state cannot be expedient for any citizen, and “the interest of each individual and that of the entire body of citizens are identical” (Cicero, Ch.6)

Is Cicero contradicting himself by saying this? What is his purpose for saying this?