Cicero: On Duties (De Officiis)

Cicero was born just outside of Rome in 106 BC. He belonged to the second-highest social class, just below the senatorial class, the equites. Well-educated, he made his way up thecursushonorum, orprogression of government offices, in the Roman Republic. He first served as an advocate in the courts of law. His successful defense and prosecution in multiple cases aided in his eventual election to consulship, the highest elected office in the Roman Senate, in 63 BC. Cicero's consulship coincided with an upheaval in Roman politics, beginning with the Catiline Conspiracy, which Cicero helped put down, and culminating in the rise of the First Triumvirate: Julius Caesar, Pompeius Magnus, and Marcus Crassus.

These three men had formed an alliance with aims to reduce the power of the Roman Senate. Caesar had offered Cicero a place in the partnership, but he had turned it down.He believedthe three men acted out of self-interest rather than for the common good. Cicero continuously made choices while in office that he felt served the Roman Republic, and because of his loyalty, was forced to live in exile for a time. Upon his return to Rome in 57 BC, he continued to serve in office, but focused more on his writing.