Off. 1.6.1Ex quattuor autem locīs, in quōs honestī nātūram vimque dīvīsimus, prīmus ille, quī in vērī cognitiōne cōnsistit, maximē nātūram attingit hūmānam.Of the four headings, however, into which we have divided the nature and force of the honourable, the first, which consists in the knowledge of truth, touches human nature most closely. Off. 1.6.1Omnēs enim trahimur et dūcimur ad cognitiōnis et scientiae cupiditātem, in quā excellere pulchrum putāmus, lābī autem, errāre, nescīre, dēcipī et malum et turpe dūcimus.For we are all drawn and led to a desire for knowledge and learning, in which we think it a fine thing to excel, while to slip, to err, to be ignorant, to be deceived we consider both bad and shameful. Off. 1.6.1In hōc genere et nātūrālī et honestō duo vitia vītanda sunt, ūnum, nē incognitaprō cognitīs habeāmus iīsque temerē assentiāmur;In this kind, which is both natural and honourable, two faults must be avoided: one, that we should not take the unknown for the known and rashly assent to it; Off. 1.6.1quod vitium effugere quī volet (omnēs autem velle dēbent), adhibēbit ad cōnsīderandās rēs et tempus et dīligentiam.and whoever wishes to escape this fault (and all ought to wish it) will apply both time and care to considering matters.
Off. 1.6.19Alterum est vitium, quod quīdam nimis magnum studium multamque operam in rēs obscūrās atque difficilēs cōnferunt eāsdemque nōn necessāriās.The other fault is that some people devote too great zeal and much effort to matters that are obscure and difficult and also unnecessary. Off. 1.6.19Quibus vitiīs dēclīnātīs quod in rēbus honestīs et cognitiōne dignīs operae cūraeque pōnētur, id iūre laudābitur, ut in astrologiā C. Sulpicium audīvimus, in geōmetriā Sex. Pompeium ipsī cognōvimus, multōs in dialecticīs, plūrēs in iūre cīvīlī, quae omnēs artēs in vērī investīgātiōne versantur;If these faults are avoided, whatever effort and care is spent on matters honourable and worth knowing will rightly be praised, as in astronomy we have heard of Gaius Sulpicius, in geometry we ourselves have known Sextus Pompeius, many in logic, and more in civil law, all of which arts are concerned with the investigation of truth; Off. 1.6.19cuius studiō ā rēbus gerendīs abdūcī contrā officium est.but to be drawn away from active life by the pursuit of it is contrary to duty. Off. 1.6.19Virtūtis enim laus omnis in āctiōne cōnsistit;For all the praise of virtue lies in action; Off. 1.6.19ā quā tamen fit intermissiō saepe multīque dantur ad studia reditūs;from which, however, there is often a respite, and many opportunities are given for returning to study; Off. 1.6.19tum agitātiō mentis, quae numquam acquiēscit, potest nōs in studiīs cognitiōnis etiam sine operā nostrā continēre.besides, the activity of the mind, which never rests, can keep us in the pursuit of knowledge even without effort on our part.
Off. 1.6.19Omnis autem cōgitātiō mōtusque animī aut in cōnsiliīs capiendīs dē rēbus honestīs et pertinentibus ad bene beātēque vīvendum aut in studiīs scientiae cognitiōnisque versābitur.But all thought and movement of the mind will be occupied either in forming plans about things that are honourable and relate to living well and happily, or in the pursuit of science and knowledge. Off. 1.6.19Ac dē prīmō quidem officiī fonte dīximus.And so much for the first source of duty.