Off. 1.15.1Quoniam autem vīvitur nōn cum perfectīs hominibus plānēque sapientibus, sed cum iīs, in quibus praeclārē agitur sī sunt simulācra virtūtis, etiam hoc intellegendum putō, nēminem omnīnō esse neglegendum, in quō aliqua significātiō virtūtis appāreat, colendum autem esse ita quemque maximē, ut quisque maximē virtūtibus hīs lēniōribus erit ōrnātus, modestiā, temperantiā, hāc ipsā, dē quā multa iam dicta sunt, iūstitiā.But since we live not with men who are perfect and entirely wise, but with those in whom it is a fine thing if they show likenesses of virtue, I think we must understand this too: that no one at all is to be neglected in whom some sign of virtue appears, but that each person is to be cherished most in proportion as he is most adorned with these gentler virtues, moderation, self-control, and this very justice about which much has already been said. Off. 1.15.1Nam fortis animus et magnus in homine nōn perfectō nec sapiente ferventior plērumque est, illae virtūtēs bonum virum videntur potius attingere.For a brave and great spirit in a man who is not perfect or wise is generally too fiery; those other virtues seem rather to belong to the good man.
Off. 1.15.1Atque haec in mōribus.So much for character. Off. 1.15.47Dē benivolentiā autem, quam quisque habeat ergā nōs, prīmum illud est in officiō, ut eī plūrimum tribuāmus, ā quō plūrimum dīligāmur, sed benivolentiam nōn adulēscentulōrum mōre ardōre quōdam amōris, sed stabilitāte potius et cōnstantiā iūdicēmus.As for the goodwill which each person may have towards us, the first point of duty is that we give most to the one by whom we are most loved; but let us judge goodwill not, as youths do, by a certain ardour of affection, but rather by its steadiness and constancy. Off. 1.15.47Sīn erunt merita, ut nōn ineunda, sed referenda sit grātia, maior quaedam cūra adhibenda est;But if there are services already done, so that gratitude is not to be begun but repaid, a greater degree of care must be applied; Off. 1.15.47nūllum enim officium referendā grātiā magis necessārium est.for no duty is more necessary than repaying gratitude. Off. 1.15.48Quodsī ea, quae ūtenda accēperīs, maiōre mēnsūrā, sī modo possīs, iubet reddere Hēsiodus, quidnam beneficiō prōvocātī facere dēbēmus?But if Hesiod bids us return what we have received for use in greater measure, if only we can, what ought we to do when challenged by a kindness?
Off. 1.15.48an imitārī agrōs fertilēs, quī multō plūs efferunt quam accēpērunt?Should we not imitate fertile fields, which bring forth much more than they have received? Off. 1.15.48Etenim sī in eōs, quōs spērāmus nōbīs prōfutūrōs, nōn dubitāmus officia cōnferre, quālēs in eōs esse dēbēmus, quī iam prōfuērunt?For if we do not hesitate to confer services on those who we hope will be of use to us, how ought we to behave towards those who have already been of use? Off. 1.15.48Nam cum duo genera līberālitātis sint, ūnum dandī beneficiī, alterum reddendī, dēmus necne, in nostrā potestāte est, nōn reddere virō bonō nōn licet, modo id facere possit sine iniūriā.For since there are two kinds of liberality, one of giving a benefit, the other of returning one, whether we give or not is in our own power, but not to return one is not permitted to a good man, provided he can do so without injustice. Off. 1.15.49Acceptōrum autem beneficiōrum sunt dīlēctūs habendī, nec dubium, quīn maximō cuique plūrimum dēbeātur.Among benefits received, moreover, distinctions must be made, and there is no doubt that the most is owed to each in proportion to the greatness of the benefit.
Off. 1.15.49In quō tamen in prīmīs, quō quisque animō, studiō, benivolentiā fēcerit, ponderandum est.In this, however, we must weigh above all with what spirit, zeal and goodwill each has acted. Off. 1.15.49Multī enim faciunt multa temeritāte quādam sine iūdiciō vel morbō in omnēs vel repentīnō quōdam quasi ventō impetū animī incitātī;For many do many things with a kind of rashness, without judgement, either from a morbid urge towards everyone or driven by a sudden impulse of the mind, as if by a gust of wind; Off. 1.15.49quae beneficia aequē magna nōn sunt habenda atque ea, quae iūdiciō, cōnsīderātē cōnstanterque dēlāta sunt.such benefits are not to be held as equally great as those which are bestowed with judgement, deliberately and consistently. Off. 1.15.49Sed in collocandō beneficiō et in referendā grātiā, sī cētera paria sunt, hoc maximē officiī est, ut quisque maximē opis indigeat, ita eī potissimum opitulārī;But in conferring a benefit and in repaying gratitude, if other things are equal, it is above all a matter of duty to help each person most in proportion as he most needs help; Off. 1.15.49quod contrā fit ā plērīsque;but most people do the opposite; Off. 1.15.49ā quō enim plūrimum spērant, etiamsī ille iīs nōn eget, tamen eī potissimum īnserviunt.for the person from whom they hope for most, even if he does not need them, is the one they serve most eagerly.