The Fifth Tusculan Disputation is the finest of the five books, its nearest rival being the First (already edited in this series). The middle three books, represented in this edition by the Second, are, as the author clearly intended, less elevated, though still showing Cicero's flair for elegant and lively exposition, and providing much valuable information about the teaching of the main Hellenistic philosophical schools, especially the Stoics. They argue that the perfect human life, or complete human well-being, that of the 'wise man', is unaffected by physical and mental distress or extremes of emotion. Against this background the Fifth puts the positive, mainly Stoic, case that virtue, moral goodness, is alone and of itself sufficient for complete well-being, providing an impressive climax to the whole work. Text with translation and comentary. (Aris and Phillips 1989)

The third and fourth books of Cicero's Tusculan Disputations deal with the nature and management of human emotion: first grief, then the emotions in general. In lively and accessible style, Cicero presents the insights of Greek philosophers on the subject, reporting the views of Epicureans and Peripatetics and giving a detailed account of the Stoic position, which he himself favors for its close reasoning and moral earnestness. Both the specialist and the general reader will be fascinated by the Stoics' analysis of the causes of grief, their classification of emotions by genus and species, their lists of oddly named character flaws, and by the philosophical debate that develops over the utility of anger in politics and war. Margaret Graver's elegant and idiomatic translation makes Cicero's work accessible not just to classicists but to anyone interested in ancient philosophy and psychotherapy or in the philosophy of emotion. The accompanying commentary explains the philosophical concepts discussed in the text and supplies many helpful parallels from Greek sources.

For the great Roman orator and statesman Cicero, 'the good life' was at once a life of contentment and one of moral virtue - and the two were inescapably intertwined. This volume brings together a wide range of his reflections upon the importance of moral integrity in the search for happiness. In essays that are articulate, meditative and inspirational, Cicero presents his views upon the significance of friendship and duty to state and family, and outlines a clear system of practical ethics that is at once simple and universal. These works offer a timeless reflection upon the human condition, and a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the greatest thinkers of Ancient Rome.

Do the gods love you? Cicero gives deep and surprising answers in two philosophical dialogues on traditional Roman religion.

This is the most complete, readable, and explanatory edition of Cicero's "On Duties" available in English. “On Duties” represents the pinnacle of Western moral philosophy. Not only is it an unmatched practical guide to conduct, but it also serves as a profoundly ennobling vision of man. Acknowledged as a supreme moral authority for many centuries, it was the second book (after the Gutenberg Bible) to be printed following the invention of the printing press. This new English translation by Quintus Curtius was specifically designed with the needs of the modern reader in mind. It reproduces the majesty and elegance of the original, while at the same time containing features found in no other edition. Lucid, precise, and accessible, this complete and unabridged edition contains the following special features: 1. An innovative topical organizational scheme that permits easy location of subjects and terms 2. Detailed textual notes for unfamiliar terms and historical references 3. Detailed commentaries and synopses on the text 4. Complete subject and name index 5. Additional explanatory essays Quintus Curtius is an attorney, writer, and former Marine officer. He can be found at www.qcurtius.com.

[I]f the Gods have neither the power nor the inclination to help us; if they take no care of us, and pay no regard to our actions; and if there is no single advantage which can possibly accrue to the life of man; then what reason can we have to pay any adoration, or any honors, or to prefer any prayers to them? Piety, like the other virtues, cannot have any connection with vain show or dissimulation; and without piety, neither sanctity nor religion can be supported; the total subversion of which must be attended with great confusion and disturbance in life.-from The Nature of the GodsRoman orator and politician Cicero provides a vital firsthand viewpoint on the fall of the Roman Empire, and a grounding in his work is necessary for appreciating philosophers who came after him, including Saint Augustine, upon whom he exerted a profound influence. This edition, a replica of the 1877 translation by C. D. Yonge, offers highly readable versions of some of Cicero's most significant writings: .Tusculan Disputations is a classic of Stoic metaphysics, Cicero's argument that virtue is the root of the only true human happiness..On the Nature of the Gods, which examines multiple viewpoints on the gods and religion, is an excellent example of the philosophical dialogue, and of Cicero's skeptical method..On the Commonwealth, one of Cicero's most important works of political philosophy, sets out his thoughts on the ideal society.Roman lawyer and philosopher MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO (106-43 B.C) also wrote On Invention, On the Orator, On the Republic, and On the Laws.British scholar CHARLES DUKE YONGE (1812-1891) is also the author of The Life of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France and History of England From 1760 to 1860.

Cicero (106-43BC) was the most brilliant orator in Classical history. Even one of the men who authorized his assassination, the Emperor Octavian, admitted to his grandson that Cicero was: 'an eloquent man, my boy, eloquent and a lover of his country'. This new selection of speeches illustrates Cicero's fierce loyalty to the Roman Republic, giving an overview of his oratory from early victories in the law courts to the height of his political career in the Senate. We see him sway the opinions of the mob and the most powerful men in Rome, in favour of Pompey the Great and against the conspirator Catiline, while The Philippics, considered his finest achievements, contain the thrilling invective delivered against his rival, Mark Antony, which eventually led to Cicero's death.

Cicero (106-43 BC) was the greatest orator of the ancient world and a leading politician of the closing era of the Roman republic. These three dialogues here are among the most accessible of Cicero's philosophical works.