Civic responsibility
idea · 2 works · 2 mentions · 2 anchored passages
duty · common weal · duties · public services · responsibilities · welfare of the state · what is required
in the texts
Fourth Philippic
The obligation of citizens to deliberate, fund, serve, and act for the commonwealth.
but your aim is to find fault with these latter and, by turning the subject into ridicule and raillery, to avoid doing any part of your own duty.
There you have the truth spoken with all freedom, simply in goodwill and for the best—no speech packed by flattery with mischief and deceit, and intended to put money into the speaker’s pocket and the control of the State into our enemies’ hands.
Now, men of Athens, with regard to such public services as it is the duty of everyone to discharge, both with person and with property, that there should be a disposition to avoid them is not right—indeed, far from it—but still it does admit of some excuse notwithstanding;
Third Olynthiac
The duty of citizens and statesmen to prefer public welfare and common defense over ease or popularity.
What remains then, men of Athens, but to help them with all your power and energy?
But I consider it right as a citizen to set the welfare of the state above the popularity of an orator.
For selfish greed had no place in their statesmanship, but each thought it his duty to further the common weal.