Cicero’s Laelius de Amicitia ("Laelius on Friendship")
An Introduction
Important Elements / Participants / Outline / Study Questions / Summary
Platonic Dialogue
Roman History
Immortality of the Soul
Roman Concept of Friendship
Philosophical views: Stoicism (Virtue) vs. Epicureanism (Pleasure)
Gaius Laelius Sapiens
Quintus Mucius Scaevola the Augur
Gaius Fannius Strabo
This essay is about the friendship between Gaius Laelius Sapiens and Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Minor (185/4–129 BC). It is also a celebration of the friendship between Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) and Titus Pomponius Atticus (109–32 BC).
Cicero is recounting a conversation between Gaius Laelius and his sons-in-law (Fannius and Scaevola) which Cicero says he heard about from his mentor Scaevola. This conversation took place shortly after the death of Scipio in 129 BC.
1–5 Dedication to Atticus
6–104 The Dialogue
8-15 Laelius reflects on Scipio’s death
17–24 Laelius’ definition of friendship
26–32 Laelius speaks on the origin of friendship
33–104 Laelius’ friendship with Scipio
Cicero Homepage / Cicero's "On Friendship" / Some Study Questions /
This material has been published on the web by Prof. Tom Sienkewicz for his students at Monmouth College. If you have any questions, you can contact him at toms@monm.edu.