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[22]
Suppose, by way of comparison, that each one of our bodily members should conceive this idea and imagine that it could be strong
and well if it should draw off to itself the health and
strength of its neighbouring member, the whole
body would necessarily be enfeebled and die; so, if
each one of us should seize upon the property of his
neighbours and take from each whatever he could
appropriate to his own use, the bonds of human
society must inevitably be annihilated. For, without
any conflict with Nature's laws, it is granted that
everybody may prefer to secure for himself rather
than for his neighbour what is essential for the conduct of life; but Nature's laws do forbid us to increase
[p. 291]
our means, wealth, and resources by despoiling
others.
M. Tullius Cicero. De Officiis. With An English Translation. Walter Miller. Cambridge. Harvard University Press; Cambridge, Mass., London, England. 1913.
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