[155]
From all this we conclude that the duties
scribed by justice must be given precedence
the pursuit of knowledge and the duties imp
by it; for the former concern the welfare of
fellow-men; and nothing ought to be more sacred
in men's eyes than that.
44. And vet scholars, whose whole life and1
interests have been devoted to the pursuit of knowledge, have not, after all, failed to contribute to the
advantages and blessings of mankind. For they have
trained many to be better citizens and to render
larger service to their country. So, for example, the
Pythagorean Lysis taught Epaminondas of Thebes;
Plato, Dion of Syracuse; and many, many others. As
for me myself, whatever service I have rendered to
my country—if, indeed, I have rendered any—I
came to my task trained and equipped for it by my
teachers and what they taught me.
1 Wisdom in the service of Justice.
M. Tullius Cicero. De Officiis. With An English Translation. Walter Miller. Cambridge. Harvard University Press; Cambridge, Mass., London, England. 1913.
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