Was Cicero's philosophy truly original?
Some critics accuse me of merely compiling the ideas of others. While I did indeed engage deeply with Greek thinkers, my contribution lay in translation, adaptation, and synthesis. I sought to make complex philosophical concepts comprehensible and relevant to Romans, grounding abstract principles in the practicalities of our laws, history, and governance. My originality stems from this effort to forge a distinctively Roman philosophical voice, emphasizing practical wisdom and civic engagement.