Ducentesimum Undetricesimum Latinum Verbum Diei: November 29, 2010

[Christina Wallin]

Theme for this month: Moralistic words

pietas, pietatis f.

Definition: An attitude of dutiful respect towards those to whom one
is bound by ties of religion, consanguinity, governance, etc.

Sententia: Cicero's Pro Gn. Plancio Oratio 33.80

etenim, iudices, cum omnibus virtutibus me adfectum esse cupio, tum
nihil est quod malim quam me et esse gratum et videri. Haec enim est
una virtus non solum maxima, sed etiam mater virtutum omnium
reliquarum. Quid est pietas nisi voluntas grata in parentes?

For indeed, judges, while I desire that I have been graced by all
virtues, at the same time there is nothing that I would prefer [more]
than that I both be and seem grateful. For this is not only the one
greatest virtue, but also the mother of all other remaining virtues.
What is duty to parents if not grateful good will towards one's
parents?

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a preeminent orator, lawyer, statesman, and
philosopher of the tail end of the Roman Republican era. This speech
was written in 54 BCE in defense of Gnaius Plancius. In this segment
of the speech, he goes on to mention how gratitude is also essential
for good citizenship, religion, and finally, friendship.

Pietas is such a difficult word to translate. It is not simply piety,
for that does not encompass pietas towards a country, or family. Like
last week's caritas, English simply does not have a proper word for
the concept. Unfortunately, we it is a bit difficult even to fully
comprehend this ideal so crucial to the Roman mentality through the
lens of our modern-day culture.