De Officiis
Cicero's treatise on moral duties and public behavior.
De Officiis (On Duties) is a 44 BC treatise by Marcus Tullius Cicero, divided into three books. In it, Cicero expounds his conception of the best way to live, behave, and observe moral obligations. The posthumously published work discusses what is honorable (Book I), what is to one's advantage (Book II), and what to do when the honorable and private gain apparently conflict (Book III).
- author
- Marcus Tullius Cicero
- year_written
- 44 BC
- field
- Philosophy
- language
- Latin
Lore & Background
De Officiis was written in October–November 44 BC, in under four weeks, during Cicero's last year alive at age 62. Cicero was still active in politics, trying to stop revolutionary forces from taking control of the Roman Republic. The work is written in the form of a letter to his son Cicero Minor, who studied philosophy in Athens, though Cicero likely wrote with a broader audience in mind. The essay was published posthumously. For the first two books, Cicero was dependent on the Stoic philosopher Panaetius, who had written an unfinished work On Duties. Cicero follows Panaetius fairly closely for Books I and II, but writes more independently for Book III. The work discusses what is honorable (Book I), what is expedient (Book II), and how to resolve apparent conflicts between the two (Book III). Cicero relies heavily on anecdotes, much more than his other works, and writes in a more leisurely and less formal style.
Reader's Guide
De Officiis has had a profound legacy. Ambrose declared it legitimate for the Church to use. Petrarch championed Cicero, and several of his works build upon De Officiis. In Shakespeare's day, De Officiis was considered the pinnacle of moral philosophy. Voltaire said of it, 'No one will ever write anything more wise.' The work continues to be popular for its style and depiction of Roman political life under the Republic.
Did You Know?
- De Officiis was written in under four weeks during October–November 44 BC, when Cicero was 62 years old.
- The work is addressed to Cicero's son Cicero Minor, who was studying philosophy in Athens at the time.
- For Books I and II, Cicero closely followed the Stoic philosopher Panaetius's unfinished work On Duties.
- Voltaire said of De Officiis, 'No one will ever write anything more wise.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What is De Officiis and who wrote it?
De Officiis is a Latin philosophical treatise composed by the Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero in 44 BC. It lays out his vision for how a person should conduct themselves in public life and fulfill their moral obligations to others.
How is De Officiis structured across its three books?
The work is divided into three books, each tackling a different dimension of duty. Book I defines what is honorable, Book II examines what serves one's self-interest, and Book III addresses how to navigate situations where honor and personal gain seem to clash.
When was De Officiis written and when did it reach readers?
Cicero composed the treatise in 44 BC, just before his assassination. It was published posthumously, meaning it reached an audience only after the author's death.
Why do scholars consider De Officiis a cornerstone of Western ethics?
The work became a foundational reference for discussions of moral responsibility, political duty, and ethical conduct that shaped later thinkers across centuries. Its framework for balancing personal advantage with public obligation gave later philosophers a concrete vocabulary for debating duty.
What is the central question De Officiis tries to answer?
At its core, the treatise asks how a person should live, act, and honor their obligations to society. Cicero argues that the honorable life and the advantageous life are ultimately aligned, even when they appear to conflict on the surface.
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