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Cicero

On the Laws Passage 32

Passage 32 of 181

Canonical reference 1.32

Latin

latin-library-cicero-de_legibus-lat

[32] propterque honestatis et gloriae similitudinem beati, qui honorati sunt, uidentur, miseri autem, qui sunt inglorii. Molestiae, laetitiae, cupiditates, timores similiter omnium mentes peruagantur, nec si opiniones aliae sunt apud alios, idcirco qui canem et felem ut deos colunt, non eadem superstitione qua ceterae gentes conflictantur. Quae autem natio non comitatem, non benignitatem, non gratum animum et beneficii memorem diligit? Quae superbos, quae maleficos, quae crudeles, quae ingratos non aspernatur, non odit? Quibus ex rebus cum omne genus hominum sociatum inter se esse intellegatur, illud extremum est, [ . . . . ] quod recte uiuendi ratio meliores efficit. Quae si adprobatis, pergam<us> ad reliqua; sin quid requiritis, id explicemus prius. Atticvs: Nos uero nihil, ut pro utroque respondeam.

English AI-generated translation, non-official

Codex gpt-5.6-sol · Non-official working translation · 2026-09-11

[32] Because honor resembles moral worth and glory, those who are honored seem happy, while those without renown seem wretched. Troubles, joys, desires, and fears pass similarly through everyone's mind. Nor, because opinions differ among peoples, are those who worship the dog and cat as gods afflicted by a superstition different from that of other nations. What nation does not love courtesy, kindness, gratitude, and remembrance of benefits? What nation does not reject and hate the arrogant, malicious, cruel, and ungrateful? Since these facts show that the whole human race is joined in fellowship, the final point is [...] that the rational discipline of living rightly makes people better. If you approve this, let us proceed to the rest. If you require some explanation, let us give it first.

Atticus: We require none, as I may answer for us both.

French AI-generated translation, non-official

Codex gpt-5.6-sol · Non-official working translation · 2026-09-11

[32] et, en raison de la ressemblance entre l’honorabilité et la gloire, ceux qui sont honorés paraissent heureux, tandis que ceux qui sont sans gloire paraissent malheureux. Les peines, les joies, les désirs et les craintes parcourent semblablement l’esprit de tous. Si les opinions diffèrent d’un peuple à l’autre, ceux qui adorent le chien et le chat comme des dieux n’en sont pas moins tourmentés par la même superstition que les autres nations. Quelle nation n’aime pas l’affabilité, la bienveillance, la reconnaissance et la mémoire des bienfaits ? Laquelle ne méprise ni ne hait les orgueilleux, les malfaisants, les cruels et les ingrats ? Puisque tout cela fait comprendre que le genre humain tout entier est uni en société, il reste enfin que [...] la méthode d’une vie droite rend les hommes meilleurs. Si vous approuvez ces propositions, poursuivons ; si vous demandez quelque éclaircissement, expliquons-le d’abord. Atticus : Nous ne demandons rien, je réponds pour nous deux.

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