Chapter 1-1:
Patriotism drives heroes to protect Rome despite personal risks.
Chapter 1-2:
Virtue's noblest use is governing and improving the Commonwealth.
Chapter 1-3:
Philosophers criticize public service, citing heroes' mistreatment and risks.
Chapter 1-4:
Cicero found consolation in patriotic service despite personal misfortunes.
Chapter 1-5:
Critics argue public service is dangerous and attracts unworthy opponents.
Chapter 1-6:
Effective governance requires lifelong preparation, not sudden involvement.
Chapter 1-7:
Philosophers' theories support public involvement, resembling divine duty.
Chapter 1-8:
Cicero combines experience and education to discuss state governance.
Chapter 1-9:
Scipio and friends discuss astronomy during the Latin holidays.
Chapter 1-10:
Scipio wishes Panætius were present to discuss celestial phenomena.
Chapter 1-11:
Lucius Furius joins the discussion on double suns' appearance.
Chapter 1-12:
Scipio greets Laelius and his companions warmly, discussing philosophy.
Chapter 1-13:
Philus introduces the discussion on celestial phenomena to Laelius.
Chapter 1-14:
Philus recounts Gallus explaining Archimedes' celestial globe's mechanics.
Chapter 1-15:
Scipio praises Gallus for debunking superstitions about lunar eclipses.
Chapter 1-16:
Pericles reassures Athenians during solar eclipse using scientific explanations.
Chapter 1-17:
Tubero praises astronomy's utility for understanding nature and humanity.
Chapter 1-18:
Laelius suggests practical knowledge benefits Commonwealth more than astronomy.
Chapter 1-19:
Laelius urges studying political unity over celestial phenomena.
Chapter 1-20:
Laelius asks Scipio to explain the best form of government.
Chapter 1-21:
Scipio discusses benefits of Roman government with political friends.
Chapter 1-22:
Scipio's dedication to improving government surpasses Greek philosophers' work.
Chapter 1-23:
Philus praises Scipio's political experience and anticipates his insights.
Chapter 1-24:
Scipio emphasizes defining terms before discussing the Commonwealth.
Chapter 1-25:
A Commonwealth is an association bound by justice and utility.
Chapter 1-26:
Cities formed for convenience and security require intelligent authority.
Chapter 1-27:
Monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy each have inherent flaws.
Chapter 1-28:
Each government form has risks of degenerating into tyranny.
Chapter 1-29:
A mixed government combining forms is the most effective.
Chapter 1-30:
Laelius asks Scipio to detail the best government form.
Chapter 1-31:
True liberty exists only in democracies, where people rule.
Chapter 1-32:
Democracies offer equality, though sometimes flawed by demagogues' influence.
Chapter 1-33:
Kings can be tyrants; aristocrats may lack true merit.
Chapter 1-34:
Aristocratic rule fails if wealth replaces wisdom in governance.
Chapter 1-35:
Scipio prefers a mixed government but favors monarchy alone.
Chapter 1-36:
Scipio invokes divine authority to discuss ideal government.
Chapter 1-37:
Rome's history supports Scipio's preference for monarchy over democracy.
Chapter 1-38:
Personal experience shows one ruler better than many leaders.
Chapter 1-39:
One just ruler is better than many conflicting leaders.
Chapter 1-40:
Tarquin's tyranny led to chaos; strong leadership needed in crisis.
Chapter 1-41:
People mourn good kings and fear unjust rulers' downfalls.
Chapter 1-42:
Scipio discusses inherent instability in absolute monarchies and democracies.
Chapter 1-43:
Plato's description of extreme liberty leading to tyranny illustrated.
Chapter 1-44:
Excessive liberty turns to servitude, resulting in tyranny's rise.
Chapter 1-45:
Mixed government combining monarchy, aristocracy, democracy offers stability.
Chapter 1-46:
Scipio praises Roman constitution as the best government example.
Chapter 1-47:
Lælius affirms Scipio's authority on Roman and ideal constitutions.
Chapter 1-48:
Our country deserves greater gratitude than our individual benefactors.
 
 
Chapter 2-1:
Scipio praises Cato, discusses the origins of Roman political constitution.
Chapter 2-2:
Romulus founded Rome, claiming descent from Mars, establishing leadership.
Chapter 2-3:
Romulus chose inland site for Rome to avoid maritime vulnerabilities.
Chapter 2-4:
Maritime cities face corruption, foreign influences, and unstable institutions.
Chapter 2-5:
Rome benefited from river location, combining inland and maritime advantages.
Chapter 2-6:
Rome's natural fortifications and hills provided defense and health benefits.
Chapter 2-7:
Romulus strengthened Rome by integrating Sabines, establishing annual games.
Chapter 2-8:
Romulus ruled alone after Tatius, creating tribes and curiae.
Chapter 2-9:
Romulus combined monarchy with aristocracy for balanced governance.
Chapter 2-10:
Romulus' death led to his deification, setting a precedent.
Chapter 2-11:
Romulus' legacy continued, shaping Rome's political and social structure.
Chapter 2-12:
Rome established interregnum, electing kings for virtue, not lineage.
Chapter 2-13:
Numa Pompilius, a Sabine, was chosen as Rome's second king.
Chapter 2-14:
Numa promoted peace, agriculture, and religious practices for social stability.
Chapter 2-15:
Numa was not Pythagoras' disciple; his wisdom was native.
Chapter 2-16:
Rome's progress attributed to counsel, discipline, and strategic borrowing.
Chapter 2-17:
Tullus Hostilius expanded Rome's military and religious institutions.
Chapter 2-18:
Ancus Martius incorporated Latins, founded Ostia, expanded Rome's territory.
Chapter 2-19:
Greek influence in Rome increased through Demaratus' contributions.
Chapter 2-20:
Lucius Tarquinius Priscus doubled Senate, established equestrian order, expanded Rome.
Chapter 2-21:
Scipio discusses Servius Tullius' rise and political foresight.
Chapter 2-22:
Servius reforms knights and classes, balancing power among citizens.
Chapter 2-23:
Servius' balanced government avoids extremes of monarchy, aristocracy, democracy.
Chapter 2-24:
Tarquinius Superbus conquers Latium, builds Capitol, sends gifts.
Chapter 2-25:
Revolution begins with Tarquinius' tyranny and Lucretia's tragic death.
Chapter 2-26:
Tyranny results from monarchy's abuse; a tyrant is despicable.
Chapter 2-27:
Romans term unjust kings as tyrants, detestable to all.
Chapter 2-28:
Lycurgus' Spartan council inspired Roman Senate's structure and power.
Chapter 2-29:
Tyranny in Rome originated from Tarquin's abuse of power.
Chapter 2-30:
Rome detested monarchy post-Tarquin, embracing Republican government.
Chapter 2-31:
Romans abolished monarchy, establishing consular power and public liberty.
Chapter 2-32:
Senate's authority balanced consular power, maintaining public order.
Chapter 2-33:
People's power increased post-monarchy, demanding debt relief and rights.
Chapter 2-34:
Debt relief and tribunes balanced consular power, aiding citizens.
Chapter 2-35:
Spurius Cassius sought kingship, condemned by own father.
Chapter 2-36:
Decemviri held unchecked power, creating oppressive laws and corruption.
Chapter 2-37:
Decemviri's injustice led to revolt, reestablishing balanced government.
Chapter 2-38:
Tubero requests Scipio's views on general state governance principles.
Chapter 2-39:
Scipio describes ideal government as a balanced mixed constitution.
Chapter 2-40:
Scipio compares wise politician to skilled elephant handler.
Chapter 2-41:
Mob's thirst for blood requires skilled, controlled political management.
Chapter 2-42:
A politician must cultivate himself, inspiring harmony and justice.
Chapter 2-43:
Scipio discusses justice's importance and impact on the state.
Chapter 2-44:
Political business must uphold justice for long-lasting governance.
 
 
Chapter 3-1:
Man's mind possesses a divine spark of genius and intellect.
Chapter 3-2:
Intelligence created speech, writing, numbers, and astronomical observations.
Chapter 3-3:
Sages of philosophy teach principles of living, embodying divine virtue.
Chapter 3-4:
Rome produced great men practicing both philosophy and governance.
Chapter 3-5:
Philus agrees to argue against justice for debate's sake.
Chapter 3-6:
Carneades argued for and against justice, challenging philosophical consistency.
Chapter 3-7:
Justice aims to benefit others and preserve equity universally.
Chapter 3-8:
Philosophers elevate justice but fail to make it natural.
Chapter 3-9:
Justice's meaning varies greatly among different cultures and nations.
Chapter 3-10:
Laws and customs change over time, justice isn't universal.
Chapter 3-11:
Justice isn't natural law; varies, based on fear, punishment.
Chapter 3-12:
Alexander's conquests show wisdom, but justice demands mercy for all.
Chapter 3-13:
Rome's conquests show justice conflicts with utility in governance.
Chapter 3-14:
Justice is seen as human weakness, favoring mixed government.
Chapter 3-15:
Carneades argued laws change, justice impractical, benefits selfish interests.
Chapter 3-16:
Virtuous life free from fear, injustice brings constant remorse.
Chapter 3-17:
False perceptions of good, bad men challenge justice's value.
Chapter 3-18:
Nations prefer unjust dominion over just subordination, reflecting individuals.
Chapter 3-19:
Honesty in sales seems foolish, deception seen as shrewd.
Chapter 3-20:
Justice means not committing murder, robbery, even at risk.
Chapter 3-21:
Scipio urges Lælius to refute Carneades' pernicious arguments against justice.
Chapter 3-22:
True law: universal, eternal, unchangeable, right reason, authored by God.
Chapter 3-23:
Cicero: Just wars are for faith, safety, restitution only.
Chapter 3-24:
Justice: Slavery benefits wicked by limiting their potential for harm.
Chapter 3-25:
Tully: Superior beings govern inferiors; mind over body, reason over passion.
Chapter 3-26:
Carneades: Ignoring danger for gain isn't punished but still wrong.
Chapter 3-27:
Natural affection for children proves society's existence; Carneades disagrees.
Chapter 3-28:
Lælius: Virtue seeks honor, remains unbitter despite ingratitude and envy.
Chapter 3-29:
True virtue is universal, respects allies' rights, ensures Republic's longevity.
Chapter 3-30:
Scipio praises Lælius' eloquent defense of justice, surpassing Attic orators.
Chapter 3-31:
Justice is foundation of lawful government; tyranny lacks true commonwealth.
Chapter 3-32:
Democracy ruled by mob is worse than aristocracy or monarchy.
Chapter 3-33:
Democracy: mob rule, possessions seized, punishments inflicted, lacks true commonwealth.
Chapter 3-34:
Aristocracy, if wise and virtuous, approaches the nature of a kingdom.
Chapter 3-35:
Scipio: Aristocracy preferable to democracy; wisdom governs better than multitude.
Chapter 3-36:
Phoenicians' commerce introduced avarice, luxury, insatiable desires to Greece.
Chapter 3- 37:
Cicero argues Roman State never was a true commonwealth.
4
Chapter 4-1:
Cicero: Body and mind theory lightly touched in Commonwealth.
Chapter 4-2:
Political prosperity depends on just, regular subordination and harmonious succession.
Chapter 4-3:
National education neglected; Greeks' efforts in vain, Polybius criticizes.
Chapter 4-4:
Greek gymnasia promote immodesty; Romans trace modesty principles back.
Chapter 4-5:
Cicero: Reproach for young men without lovers, unlike Spartans.
Chapter 4-6:
Censor's judgment inflicts only shame; Greek prefect for women.
Chapter 4-7:
Faith derived from actions; frugality, continency, fidelity praised in Republic.
Chapter 4-8:
Disputes between neighbors considered less severe than quarrels.
Chapter 4-9:
Cicero criticizes poets for causing darkness, alarms, and desires.
Chapter 4-10:
Scipio: Histrionic art discreditable, actors deprived of franchise.
Chapter 4-11:
Cicero: Comedy mirrors life, customs, truth; tragic actors ambassadors.
5
Chapter 5-1:
Rome's greatness from men and customs, now neglected and lost.
Chapter 5-2:
Royal justice interprets laws, ensuring welfare, Numa exemplifies ancient custom.
Chapter 5-3:
Practical knowledge in politics parallels steward's agricultural and scientific expertise.
Chapter 5-4:
Public opinion, education, and honor prevent vice more effectively.
Chapter 5-5:
Laws on marriage, property ensure citizens' happiness, just government.
Chapter 5-6:
Governor's goal: citizens' happiness, stability, resources, reputation, and virtue.
Chapter 5-7:
Governor's goal: citizens' happiness, stability, resources, reputation, and virtue.
Chapter 5-8:
Marcellus fierce, Maximus cautious; nations suffer from leaders' ferocity.
Chapter 5-9:
Cicero: corrupting judges with eloquence worse than with money.
6
Chapter 6-1:
Prepare always for disturbances; civil dissension arises from divided citizens.
Chapter 6-2:
Gracchus mitigated Claudius' unpopularity; ancestors wanted firm, god-pleasing marriages.
Chapter 6-3:
Cicero imitates Plato's Er; relates Africanus' warning about treachery.
Chapter 6-4:
Plato's correct opinions resemble resurrection beliefs; Cicero's jest on truth.
Chapter 6-5:
Cicero mimics Plato; Scipio's dream reveals souls' condition, stars' spheres.
Chapter 6-6:
Cicero places souls, heavenly secrets atop completed work.
Chapter 6-7:
Cicero defends philosophers' dreams against Epicureans' accusations of falsehood.
Chapter 6-8:
Scipio introduces his dream, foreseeing rewards for good governors.
Chapter 6-9:
Scipio visits Masinissa in Africa; receives affectionate, grateful welcome.
Chapter 6-10:
Scipio dreams of Africanus, who comforts and instructs him.
Chapter 6-11:
Africanus predicts Scipio's future, including Carthage's destruction and consulship.
Chapter 6-12:
Africanus foresees challenges and urges Scipio to save Rome.
Chapter 6-13:
Africanus reveals heavenly reward for preserving, defending one's country.
Chapter 6-14:
Scipio inquires about deceased loved ones; Africanus explains true life.
Chapter 6-15:
Scipio's father explains life's purpose; urges justice, piety, patriotism.
Chapter 6-16:
Scipio views universe; earth appears small, stars' magnitude amazing.
Chapter 6-17:
Africanus explains universe's spheres, their harmonious celestial motions.
Chapter 6-18:
Scipio hears the "music of the spheres," celestial harmony .
Chapter 6-19:
Africanus: Earthly glory is insignificant compared to heavenly splendor.
Chapter 6-20:
Earth's zones limit fame; few places are inhabited.
Chapter 6-21:
Future deluges, combustions prevent lasting glory or remembrance.
Chapter 6-22:
True year measures all stars' return; human memory limited.
Chapter 6-23:
Earthly glory is fleeting; virtue leads to eternal rewards.
Chapter 6-24:
Scipio vows to follow ancestors' steps; Africanus advises wisdom.
Chapter 6-25:
Self-moving entities are eternal; motion's source is immortal mind.
Chapter 6-26:
Mind's self-motion proves its eternity; pursue country's good always.
Chapter 1:
Divination has ancient roots and involves foreknowledge of future events.
Chapter 2:
Divination types include soothsaying, augury, and interpreting dreams, omens.
Chapter 3:
Philosophers debated divination; most supported it except Xenophanes, Epicurus.
Chapter 4:
Rashness in belief or rejection of divination must be avoided.
Chapter 5:
Cicero and brother Quintus discuss divination's validity and implications together.
Chapter 6:
Divination's connection to belief in gods and its ancient acceptance.
Chapter 7:
Observing signs over time solidifies belief in their significance.
Chapter 8:
Weather signs are reliable despite unclear underlying principles.
Chapter 9:
Animals, plants display natural signs predicting future events accurately.
Chapter 10:
Certain plants' effects are known; underlying causes remain mysterious.
Chapter 11:
Jove's divine fire illuminates the world, guiding human souls.
Chapter 12:
Year brings ominous signs; old Etruscan prophecies come true.
Chapter 13:
Ancient virtues, wisdom, and philosophy revered by Roman ancestors.
Chapter 14:
Divination's accuracy compared to medical, navigational uncertainties.
Chapter 15:
King Deiotarus trusted auspices, valued honor over material possessions.
Chapter 16:
Neglecting auspices led to disastrous outcomes in Roman history.
Chapter 17:
Romulus used augury; Tarquinius tested augur with impossible task.
Chapter 18:
Divination from frenzy, dreams, oracles accepted; Etruscan knowledge revered.
Chapter 19:
Histories confirm oracles' truths; Delphi oracle renowned for accuracy.
Chapter 20:
Dreams, like Dionysius' mother's, hold significant prophetic meanings.
Chapter 21:
Hecuba's dream warned Priam of Troy's burning fate.
Chapter 22:
Tarquin's dream predicted revolution, interpreted by diviners.
Chapter 23:
Phalaris's mother's dream predicted his future cruelty.
Chapter 24:
Hannibal's dreams warned against removing golden column.
Chapter 25:
Socrates predicted his death through a prophetic dream.
Chapter 26:
Roman rustic's dream led to repeated votive games.
Chapter 27:
Simonides' dream warned of impending shipwreck.
Chapter 28:
Your dream predicted distress and joy accurately.
Chapter 29:
Many false dreams exist; Socrates explained true ones.
Chapter 30:
Plato explained dreams arise from a clear mind.
Chapter 31:
Divination's frenzy predicts true events through inspiration.
Chapter 32:
Rhodian sailor's accurate prophecy during Dyrrhachium siege.
Chapter 33:
Artificial divination includes haruspices, augurs, interpreters' predictions.
Chapter 34:
Leuctra battle signs included sweating statues and crowing cocks.
Chapter 35:
Flaminius' disregard for omens led to disaster.
Chapter 36:
Midas and Plato's childhood omens predicted their future.
Chapter 37:
Poetic frenzy and divine inspiration produce true predictions.
Chapter 38:
Stoics argue divination's necessity and divine nature.
Chapter 39:
Chrysippus' argument supports divination's existence through evidence.
Chapter 40:
Ancient kings, augurs, and prophets revered divination's accuracy.
Chapter 41:
Druids, magi, Etrurians, and others practiced divination in ancient times.
Chapter 42:
Divination methods were influenced by local geography and practices.
Chapter 43:
States valued auspices and divination for war and peace decisions.
Chapter 44:
Senate consulted Sibylline books and diviners for omens' interpretations.
Chapter 45:
Voices and signs warned of impending dangers to Rome.
Chapter 46:
Auguries, auspicious names, and omens influenced Roman decisions significantly.
Chapter 47:
Publius Claudius' augury warned of domestic and civil war.
Chapter 48:
Romulus and Remus used augury to decide Rome's ruler.
Chapter 49:
Long observation established accurate divination through various signs.
Chapter 50:
Natural philosophers predicted events through natural signs and phenomena.
Chapter 51:
Dreams provide divination by freeing the mind from senses.
Chapter 52:
Stoics believe divine energy directs auspices, signs, and omens.
Chapter 53:
Gods manipulate signs like bird flights for divination purposes.
Chapter 54:
Socrates claimed a guiding demon advised him against danger.
Chapter 55:
True divination exists despite occasional errors in interpretations.
Chapter 56:
Fate's order allows accurate predictions by observing signs.
Chapter 57:
Nature provides divination through signs; impostors deceive for profit.