In 44BC Cicero, while running from the fury of a mad Antony, found time to write his last treatise__ a work giving his son, Cicero Minor, advice on how to live and behave. Cicero also known as Tully was widely read before the twentieth century and his works influenced Europe's greatest thinkers and philosophers. Known for his blistering speeches before the Roman Senate Cicero was brilliant and vain. He pursued philosophy in a Roman society that found little use for philosophers. The Romans were a practical people. Cicero, Roman to the core, applied his philosophical bent to the practical matters of life: politics, morals, and behavior. De Officiis, remains today a practical handbook and a look back at the classical wisdom that formed Western society.Unfortunately Antony's assassins finally caught up with him and his hands which had written the Phillipics, fiery speeches against Antony, were cut off along with his head and put on display in the Roman Forum.
Reccomendations: read De Officiis along with the Orations (This one is translated by the venerable H. Grose Hodge). There is a great commentary on De Officiis, A Commentary on Cicero De Officiis This is a bit pricey, but the only English commentary written on De Officiis since the 19th century. Also a fairly recent biography exists(2003) Cicero Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician by Anthony Everitt. I haven't read this one yet, but deserves a look.
If you study Cicero you can call yourself a "Ciceronian" Got a nice ring to it.
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