Book 2, Chapter 1

1 As I searched, thinking long and deeply about how I might serve the greatest number of people without ever abandoning my concern for the republic, no greater service occurred to me than to open for my fellow citizens the paths to the highest learning. I believe I have already accomplished this in several books. In the book entitled Hortensius I urged the study of philosophy as strongly as I could; and in the four books of the Academics I showed what approach to philosophy I considered least presumptuous, most consistent, and most refined.

2 Since philosophy rests on the question of the ultimate ends of good and evil, I thoroughly examined that subject in five books, making it possible to understand what each philosopher maintains and what can be said against each. Five more books followed, the Tusculan Disputations, which set out what is most essential to a happy life. The first concerns contempt for death, the second endurance of pain, the third the easing of grief, and the fourth the other disturbances of the mind. The fifth embraces the principle that casts the strongest light on all philosophy: it teaches that virtue is sufficient in itself for a happy life.

3 After publishing these works, I completed three books On the Nature of the Gods, containing the whole inquiry into that subject. To make that inquiry full and complete, I began these books on divination. If, as I intend, I add a work on fate, this entire question will have received more than adequate treatment. With these works should be counted the six books On the Republic, which I wrote when I held the helm of government. This is a great subject, belonging properly to philosophy, and treated in the fullest detail by Plato, Aristotle, Theophrastus, and the whole Peripatetic school. And what shall I say of my Consolation? It certainly brings me some measure of healing, and I think it will be of great service to others too. Recently I also brought out the book On Old Age, addressed to our friend Atticus. And since philosophy makes a man good and courageous, my Cato deserves a foremost place among these works.

1 I spent a long time asking myself and thinking hard about how I could help as many people as possible, so that I would never stop serving the state. No greater service came to mind than to show my fellow citizens the paths to the best fields of learning. I think I have already done that in quite a few books. In the book called Hortensius, I urged people to study philosophy as forcefully as I could. In the four books of the Academics, I showed which way of doing philosophy I thought made the fewest claims for itself and was the most consistent and refined.

2 The foundation of philosophy lies in the ultimate ends of good and evil. I examined that subject fully in five books, so readers could understand what each philosopher said and what arguments were made against each one. Five more books followed, the Tusculan Disputations. They explained the things most essential to a happy life. The first deals with disregarding death, the second with enduring pain, the third with easing grief, and the fourth with the other disturbances of the mind. The fifth covers the subject that sheds the most light on all philosophy. It teaches that goodness is enough, by itself, to make life happy.

3 Once those works were out, my next completed work was On the Nature of the Gods, in three books. They contain the whole discussion of that subject. To make that discussion full and complete, I began writing these books on divination. If I add a work on fate, as I intend, I will have done more than enough to cover this entire question. These works should also include my six books On the Republic, written when I held the state’s steering wheel. This is a great subject, properly belonging to philosophy. Plato, Aristotle, Theophrastus, and the whole Peripatetic school have treated it at great length. And what should I say about my Consolation? It certainly gives me some relief, and I think it will do others a great deal of good too. Recently I also fitted in the book On Old Age that I sent to our friend Atticus. Above all, since philosophy makes a man good and brave, my Cato belongs among these books.