"Cicero: ' Ah, you're trying to refute me by quoting things I've said or written myself. That's confronting me with documents that have already been sealed! You can reserve that method for people who only argue according to fixed rules. But I live from one day to the next! If something strikes me as probable, I say it; and that is how, unlike everyone else, I remain a free agent.'" Easy for him to say, and adroitly skating around any further discussion of the subject. Case closed! And if you come at me tomorrow, I may employ an entirely different line of reasoning. This is one reason Cicero used to be required reading for debate students.

Actually that is Tully at his least didactic, as his entire raison-d'etre was to teach. And his texts, coming down to us primarly in epistolatory form, do instruct us how to behave, how to interact, how to be civilized and live according to the Aristotelean Golden Mean. Luckily, they weren't sealed up as his law documents were. Virgil's ideal of "pietas" was derived in large part from Roman fathers of Cicero's ilk.

This book cannot be dismissed and should be required reading for anyone entering the law profession today. There might be more scrupulous attorneys practicing today if Ciceronian ethics were stressed as they were in olden days. This book is also full of common sense advice, the kind that used to be passed down from generation to generation, yet is sorely missing in these days of instant gratification and the glorification of self.


A wise choice as a Cicero starter   July 29, 2002
 34 out of 34 found this review helpful

Although "On the Good Life" is a hodgepodge of Cicero's essays, there are a few reasons why this book is a must buy. First, these are Cicero's words, some of the best writing to come from ancient Rome. Second, the essays are a great introduction to Cicero's immense collection of essays, speeches, and letters. His literary productive output was vast. Finally, Michael Grant's translation and introduction is of the highest quality.

A lot can be said about the selection of the essays - why would Michael Grant pick a Book Five (Discussions at Tusculum) and a Book Two (On Duties) instead of a complete collection of each? Where's the rest of these works? Frankly, it didn't matter to me. Once I began reading "On the Good Life" I was hooked. This book converted me into a lifelong Cicero fan and Grant's translations (through Penguin Classics) are my primary sources for his works. I have five Cicero books from Penguin Classics so far.

My favorite essay was "On Friendship." I would recommend it to anyone. It is wise, philosophical, and applicable to everyone even today. The rest of the essays were also fantastic with the exception - my opinion only - of "On the Orator." That I could have done without. It was a little too long and way too dry. I wish Michael Grant had squeezed in some other essay of Cicero's.

There are more comprehensive translations of Cicero but "On the Good Life" is a wise choice as a Cicero starter. If you enjoy classic literature and you haven't read Cicero, start here.


"... the best part of a man..."   January 26, 2003
 11 out of 13 found this review helpful

This review refers to the work, -Cicero: On the Good
Life-, translated and with introductions by Michael
Grant (Penguin Classics).
What is to like about this collection of sections
of essays by Cicero? I personally favor very much
the excellent introductions by Michael Grant, as well
as the excellent thought and expression by Cicero.
Be aware that this volume contains parts of whole
works. The parts themselves are complete, but if one
is looking for the whole work, then one should look
to the Harvard/Loeb editions of Cicero. Michael
Grant has piloted several Penguin Classics volumes
of Cicero parts, so one will have to purchase several
volumes in order to get the benefit of Mr. Grant's
insights and translations.
But those introductions, the main "Introduction" to
this volume itself, as well as the "introductions"
to each of the selections are excellent. Michael
Grant not only gives you the historical and cultural
context for Cicero himself, but he also in the main
"Introduction" (as he does in other volumes he
superintends) gives you the historical and cultural
influence which follows after Cicero, the influence
of his works on later generations. In this particular
volume, Mr. Grant says that he starts first with
"indicating how important [these works] still are
for us today." "For Cicero, through these treatises,
has been the greatest of all conservers and trans-
mitters of cultural values, the greatest unifying

force of Europe, the shaper of its civilized speech."
That is tall praise indeed. And, when he gets
to the historical influence itself, Mr. Grant is
no less emphatic. "One of the very strongest forces
contributing to the ideals of the Italian Renaissance,
and thus to the whole intellectual, scientific, and
social development of western Europe, was Cicero's
thought as interpreted by Petrarch (d. 1374)."
So, if you have ever scratched your head, and/or
your mind, and/or your soul, and wondered just
what DOES constitute the good, moral, worthy,
excellent life, then Cicero is an invaluable
companion to help you quest in search for an
answer to that most important of quandaries.


CICERO THE SUPERB   December 4, 1999
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Cicero's brilliance shines like a beacon though two thousand years. This book gives his thoughts on what qualities make up a good statesman,citizen, and friend. His simple yet profound thoughts are outstanding. Your time is never wasted reading Cicero.


Buy On Friendship, trash Michael Grant   April 5, 2005
 9 out of 14 found this review helpful

It is a surprise to me that many of you give this book five stars: it isn't worth it. Four stars is the max. Why? First, only "On Friendship" is completely translated, all the others are merely selections. Second, Michael Grant's introduction to this book is rather unprofessional, and to some extent misleading. Grant keeps mentioning people other than Cicero himself, that is to say, you don't learn much about Cicero after reading his introduction. Third, Grant's has made a poor selection on Cicero's works: "On Duties II" can hardly stand alone, and if it is read by itself it could be very misleading (For this, see the introduction of "On Obligation" translated by P.G. Walsh, published by Oxford). "On the Orator I" is another poor choice, and in my opinion it should be excluded. Also, "Discussion at Tusculum V" should not stand alone. It should be published with the previous four books in a separate edition (becaue "Tusculan Disputation" is one of the best works of Cicero). And the "Dream of Scipio" is almost insignificant if it is left without the entire book of "De Republica". In short, I bought this book only for the purpose of reading "On Friendship", and no more.