Editing De Officiis (section)

==Contents==
[[File:Houghton Typ 520.31.282 - De officiis, 1531.jpg|thumb|From a German edition – 1531]]
''De Officiis'' discusses what is [[honor]]able (Book I), what is expedient or to one's advantage (Book II), and what to do when the honorable and expedient conflict (Book III). Cicero says they are the same and that they only appear to be in conflict. In Book III, Cicero expresses his own ideas.<ref>Cicero, Grant: "Selected Works", p. 157</ref>

===Book I===
The first book treats of what is honorable in itself.<ref name="dunlop258"/> He shows in what true manner our duties are founded in honor and virtue.<ref name="dunlop258"/> The four constituent parts of virtue are truth, justice, fortitude, and decorum, and our duties are founded in the right perception of these.<ref name="dunlop258"/>

===Book II===
The second book enlarges on those duties which relate to private advantage and the improvement of life.<ref name="dunlop258"/> The book focuses on political advancement, and the means employed for the attainment of wealth and power.<ref name="dunlop258"/> The honorable means of gaining popularity include generosity, courtesy, and eloquence.<ref name="dunlop258"/>

===Book III===
The third book discusses the choice to be made when there is an apparent conflict between virtue and expediency.<ref name="dunlop258"/> True virtue can never be put in competition with private advantage.<ref name="dunlop258"/> Thus nothing should be accounted useful or profitable if not strictly virtuous, and there ought to be no separation of the principles of virtue and expediency.<ref name="dunlop258"/>

Cicero proposes some rules for cases of doubt, where seeming utility comes into competition with virtue.<ref name="dunlop258"/> He examines in what situations one may seek private gain with honour.<ref name="dunlop258"/> He takes his examples from Roman history, such as the case of [[Marcus Atilius Regulus]] who was released by the [[Carthaginians]] to negotiate a peace, advised the [[Roman Senate]] to reject the proposals, and fulfilled his oath by returning to [[Ancient Carthage|Carthage]].<ref name="dunlop258"/>