De Officiis (tr. Walter Miller, 1913)

Their wordsFor no phase of life, whether public or private, whether in business or in the home, whether one is working on what concerns oneself alone or dealing with another, can be without its moral duty; on the discharge of such duties depends all that is morally right, and on their neglect all that is morally wrong in life.

Their wordsThe foundation of justice, moreover, is good faith—that is, truth and fidelity to promises and agreements.

Their wordsFor since there are two ways of settling a dispute: first, by discussion; second, by physical force; and since the former is characteristic of man, the latter of the brute, we must resort to force only in case we may not avail ourselves of discussion.

Their wordsWhile wrong may be done, then, in either of two ways, that is, by force or by fraud, both are bestial: fraud seems to belong to the cunning fox, force to the lion; both are wholly unworthy of man, but fraud is the more contemptible.

Their wordsFor fear is but a poor safeguard of lasting power; while affection, on the other hand, may be trusted to keep it safe for ever.

Their wordsFor if anyone thinks that he can win lasting glory by pretence, by empty show, by hypocritical talk and looks, he is very much mistaken.

Their wordsFor nothing can be expedient which is not at the same time morally right; neither can a thing be morally right just because it is expedient, but it is expedient because it is morally right.