On Duties Passage 50

Sed incidunt, ut supra dixi, saepe causae, cum repugnare utilitas honestati videatur, ut animadvertendum sit, repugnetne plane an possit cum honestate coniungi. Eius generis hae sunt quaestiones: si exempli gratia vir bonus Alexandrea Rhodum magnum frumenti nurerum advexerit in Rhodiorum inopia et fame summaque annonae caritate, si idem sciat complures mercatores Alexandrea solvisse navesque in cursu frumento onustas petentes Rhodum viderit, dicturusne sit id Rhodiis an silentio suum quam plurimo venditurus. Sapientem et bonum virum fingimus; de eius deliberatione et consultatione quaerimus, qui celaturus Rhodios non sit, si id turpe iudicet, sed dubitet, an turpe non sit.

But, as I said above, circumstances often arise in which advantage seems to conflict with moral goodness, so that we must consider whether it conflicts absolutely or can be joined with moral goodness. Questions of this kind include the following. Suppose, for example, that a good man has brought a large quantity of grain from Alexandria to Rhodes during a shortage and famine there, when the price of grain is extremely high. Suppose also that he knows several merchants have sailed from Alexandria and has seen their grain-laden ships under way for Rhodes. Should he tell the Rhodians, or remain silent and sell his own grain for the highest possible price? We are imagining a wise and good man. We are asking about the deliberation and reflection of someone who would not conceal the facts from the Rhodians if he judged that dishonorable, but who doubts whether it is dishonorable.

Mais il se présente souvent, comme je l’ai dit plus haut, des situations où l’utilité paraît s’opposer à l’honnêteté; il faut alors examiner si elle s’y oppose absolument ou si elle peut s’y accorder. Voici des questions de ce genre. Supposons qu’un homme de bien ait transporté d’Alexandrie à Rhodes une grande quantité de blé, alors que les Rhodiens souffrent de la disette et de la faim et que le prix des denrées est extrêmement élevé. Supposons qu’il sache que plusieurs marchands ont quitté Alexandrie et qu’il ait vu en route leurs navires chargés de blé faisant voile vers Rhodes. Le dira-t-il aux Rhodiens, ou gardera-t-il le silence pour vendre sa marchandise au prix le plus élevé possible? Nous supposons un homme sage et bon. Nous examinons la délibération et la réflexion d’un homme qui ne cacherait pas la chose aux Rhodiens s’il la jugeait honteuse, mais qui doute qu’elle le soit.