Cicero: As It Should Be Among Honorable Men…

Overview

In As It Should Be Among Honorable Men…, Cicero develops an investigation into the principles of moral conduct and the duties that enable individuals to live with dignity within society. This selection, drawn from his On Duties (De officiis), presents a conception of integrity that extends beyond simple truthfulness. For the Roman philosopher, being honorable means acting in accordance with what is morally right, seeking consistency between personal qualities, decisions, and obligations toward others.

Originally addressed to his son Marcus, On Duties belongs to a philosophical tradition strongly influenced by Stoicism. Cicero seeks to make moral principles applicable to the concrete circumstances of human existence. Knowing what is good is not enough: individuals must also understand how to recognize it in particular situations and translate that understanding into action. Morality thus emerges as a practical discipline closely connected to individual responsibility and collective life.

At the heart of this investigation are four sources of moral honorableness. The first concerns the pursuit of truth and sound judgment, which contribute to the development of wisdom. The second rests on justice, respect for commitments, and the preservation of social bonds. The third corresponds to greatness and strength of spirit, making courageous conduct possible without submission to immediate self-interest. The fourth concerns temperance, moderation, and a sense of proportion in both actions and words.

These qualities are not isolated virtues. Cicero emphasizes their interdependence and their combined contribution to the formation of moral character. Courage, for example, cannot be genuinely virtuous when placed in the service of injustice, while the pursuit of knowledge loses part of its value when separated from obligations toward others. Integrity therefore requires maintaining a balance between personal aspirations, control over desires, and the demands of communal life.

The work also gives considerable importance to moral honorableness, expressed by the Latin term honestum. This concept connects what is morally right with what deserves esteem and respect. Virtue therefore does not rest exclusively on obedience to rules: it manifests itself in a person's way of being, speaking, and acting. Through this conception, Cicero connects individual excellence with the quality of human relationships.

Key Takeaways

One of the fundamental ideas of As It Should Be Among Honorable Men… is that integrity represents a comprehensive moral requirement. It is not limited to telling the truth or respecting social conventions. It involves pursuing what is just, fulfilling commitments, and behaving with dignity in the different circumstances of life.

The distinction between the four major dimensions of virtue occupies a central place. Wisdom makes it possible to discern truth, justice governs relationships with others, greatness of spirit supports courage, and temperance regulates behavior. Cicero emphasizes their complementary nature: none of these qualities can be fully understood independently of the others.

The text also highlights the importance of duties toward society. Keeping promises, recognizing the rights of others, and preserving trust are essential conditions of communal life. Justice is therefore not merely a personal quality but a principle that makes lasting human relationships possible.

Finally, Cicero associates moderation with personal dignity. Control over the passions, a sense of proportion, and consistency between words and actions contribute to morally honorable conduct. This requirement concerns both major decisions and ordinary behavior in everyday life.

Conclusion

With As It Should Be Among Honorable Men…, Cicero's moral philosophy is approached through the relationships between virtue, integrity, and responsibility toward others. By distinguishing the principal qualities underlying honorable conduct, the philosopher develops a conception of human dignity grounded in wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation.

This selection highlights the practical dimension of Ciceronian thought, in which moral principles should guide individual actions and contribute to the preservation of social bonds. It also illustrates the influence of Greek philosophy on Roman reflections concerning duty, communal life, and the demands of virtue.

Good to Know

• As It Should Be Among Honorable Men… is an English rendering of the French editorial title Comme il doit en être entre honnêtes hommes…, rather than an independent treatise originally composed under that name by Cicero. It is a selection from On Duties, also known by its Latin title De officiis.
• The French edition is published by Gallimard in the Folio Sagesses collection. It features a translation from Latin by Émile Bréhier, under the editorial direction of Pierre-Maxime Schuhl.
• On Duties is addressed to Marcus, Cicero's son. It draws particularly on the reflections of the Stoic philosopher Panaetius of Rhodes, while developing a Roman approach to morality and social obligations.
• The Latin term honestum refers to what is morally honorable or worthy of esteem. Its meaning extends beyond the modern everyday sense of "honesty," which is often associated primarily with truthfulness.
• This selection should be distinguished from the complete On Duties, which also examines the relationships between usefulness, personal interest, and moral requirements.