Treatises On Friendship And Old Age

"Treatises on Friendship and Old Age" by Marcus Tullius Cicero is a timeless exploration of two fundamental aspects of the human experience: friendship and aging. In this classic work, Cicero, one of ancient Rome's greatest thinkers and orators, reflects on the nature of true friendship and offers wisdom on how to navigate the challenges of growing older with grace and dignity. In the first treatise on friendship, Cicero delves into the essence of genuine companionship, extolling its virtues and illustrating its importance in a fulfilling life. Drawing upon examples from his own experiences and the lives of historical figures, Cicero outlines the qualities of a true friend and offers practical advice on cultivating and maintaining meaningful relationships. In the second treatise on old age, Cicero explores the inevitable process of aging and confronts the fears and anxieties associated with growing older. Rather than lamenting the passage of time, Cicero celebrates the wisdom and perspective that come with age, offering reassurance and guidance to those facing the challenges of later life. Throughout both treatises, Cicero's prose is marked by its clarity, elegance, and depth of insight. His reflections on friendship and old age transcend the boundaries of time and culture, speaking to the universal human experience with empathy and understanding. "Treatises on Friendship and Old Age" stands as a testament to Cicero's enduring legacy as a philosopher and moralist. His timeless wisdom continues to inspire readers today, offering guidance on how to cultivate meaningful relationships, confront the passage of time with courage and resilience, and embrace the fullness of life's journey.

The following work is a collection of essays by Cicero, regarding friendship and old age. The Treatise on Friendship is written as a dialogue between prominent figures of the Middle Roman Republic and is set after the death of the younger Scipio Africanus (otherwise known as Scipio Aemilianus, Scipio Africanus Minor or Scipio the Younger). The interlocutors of the dialogue chosen by Cicero are Gaius Laelius, a close friend of the late statesman, and Laelius's two sons-in-law, Gaius Fannius, and Quintus Mucius Scaevola. As for The Treatise of Old Age, it was written by Cicero in his sixty-third year, and is addressed to his friend Atticus. Cicero represents the discourse as delivered by the elder Cato (in his eighty-fourth year) on occasion of young Scipio and Laelius expressing their admiration at the wonderful ease with which he still bore the load of life. Cicero acknowledges that the sentiments put into the mouth of Cato are really Cicero's own. His purpose is to show that old age is not only tolerable, but comfortable by internal resources of happiness.

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Translator names not noted above: E.S. Shuckburgh, William Melmoth, F.C.T. Bosanquet Originally published between 1909 and 1917 under the name "Harvard Classics," this stupendous 51-volume set-a collection of the greatest writings from literature, philosophy, history, and mythology-was assembled by American academic CHARLES WILLIAM ELIOT (1834-1926), Harvard University's longest-serving president. Also known as "Dr. Eliot's Five Foot Shelf," it represented Eliot's belief that a basic liberal education could be gleaned by reading from an anthology of works that could fit on five feet of bookshelf. Volume IX features: [ three works by Roman philosopher MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO (106 Bi43 Be: the dialogue On Friendship, a timeless consideration of that happy state; the essay On Old Age, his reflections on aging and death; and his Letters, including his thoughts on matters both personal and political [ the Letters of Roman lawyer PLINY THE YOUNGER (61-c. 112), which remain some of the most valuable firsthand documents we have of the period, particularly since he moved in politically important circles; the letters include his eyewitness account of the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Excerpt from Letters of Marcus Tullius Cicero: With His Treatises on Friendship and Old Age As to the dramatis persone. In the treatise on Old Age, which I dedicated to you, I introduced Cato as chief speaker. NO one, I thought, could with greater propriety speak on old age than one who had been an Old man longer than any one else, and had been exceptionally vigorous in his Old age. Similarly, having learnt from tradition that of all friend ships that between Gaius Laelius and Publius Scipio was the most remarkable, I thought Laelius was just the person to support the chief part in a discussion on friendship which Scaevola remembered him to have actually taken. Moreover, a discussion Of this sort gains somehow in weight from the authority of men of ancient days, especially if they happen to have been distinguished. SO it comes about that in reading over what I have myself written I have a feeling at times that it is actually Cato that is speaking, not I. Finally, as I sent the former essay to you as a gift from one Old man to another, so I have dedicated this On Friend ship as a most affectionate friend to his friend. In the for mer Cato spoke, who was the Oldest and wisest man of his day; in this Laelius speaks on friendship - Laelius, who was at once a wise man (that was the title given him) and emi nent for his famous friendship. Please forget me for a while; imagine Laelius to be speaking. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

"Treatises on Friendship and Old Age" from Cicero. Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, orator, political theorist, consul and constitutionalist (106-43 BC).