institution

the Stoics

also: Stoici, the Stoa

The Stoic philosophical school, founded by Zeno of Citium; Cicero invokes their doctrine that urbanity (wit) is a virtue.

Reading notes

Ad Familiares 3.7 §5 of urbanity, which is a virtue, as the Stoics most rightly hold
The Stoics classed wit and refined social grace (urbanitas, Greek eutrapelia) among the virtues; Cicero flatters Appius's polish while mocking his snobbery about birth.
Ad Familiares 7.16 §3 Stoics
The Stoic school held that only the wise man is truly rich, since he alone enjoys the whole cosmos; Cicero plays this paradox off against the plain Roman sense of 'rich' (well supplied with cash).
On Divination §1.6 the Stoics
The Greek philosophical school founded by Zeno of Citium that made divination a corollary of its doctrines of providence and fate. Their defence of it (by Chrysippus, Diogenes, Antipater, Posidonius) is the position Quintus expounds in Book 1.
On the Ends of Good and Evil §1.61 the Stoics
The Stoic school held that only virtue (the honestum) is good and is by itself sufficient for happiness, denying pleasure any place among goods. Torquatus contrasts the Epicurean position favorably with theirs.
On the Nature of the Gods §2.3 Our school divides this whole question
The Stoics, Balbus's school. He sets out the four-part program of Stoic theology: that the gods exist, what their nature is, that they govern the world, and that they care for human affairs.
On the Nature of the Gods §3.62 that teasing-out of names
The Stoic practice of etymologising the gods' names to extract a hidden natural meaning (Saturn from saturare, Minerva from minuere, Neptune from nare 'to swim'). Cotta ridicules the method, telling Balbus he seemed to be 'swimming harder than Neptune himself.'
On Duties §3.11 as the Stoics hold
The Stoic school held that only the morally honourable (honestum) is good, and that whatever is honourable is therefore also expedient. This identity is the premise on which Book 3 turns.
Tusculan Disputations §4.72 The Stoics, indeed, say that the wise man will love
The Stoic doctrine that the sage will feel love, defined as an effort to form a friendship from the appearance of beauty. Cicero accepts only such love as is wholly free of desire.