"After a great deal of thought over a long period of time about how I could make myself as useful as possible and not stop looking after the state, nothing better occurred to me than to hand on the methods of the best arts to my fellow-citizens, which I think I have now done in various books. As far as I could I encouraged people to take up philosophy in my book called "Hortensius", and in the four books "Academics" I showed what type of philosophy I think is the least arbitrary and the most consistent and elegant.
Once the fundamentals of philosophy had been laid in my five books on the extremes of good and evil that topic was explained in depth so that what had been said by and against each philosopher could be understood. Then the same number of books of "Tuscan Conversations" laid open the most necessary topics for living a happy life. The first was about the need to be indifferent to death, the second was about bearing with pain, the third about alleviating troubles, and the fourth about other things that can disturb our peace of mind. The fifth covered that topic which illustrates the whole of philosophy: for it seems that in itself virtue contains what is needed to live a happy life.
Having produced these, I then completed three books on the nature of the gods containing everything on that topic. Now for my work to be complete and comprehensive, I am embarking on these books on divination. If I then add a work on fate, which I'm thinking of doing, the whole enquiry will have been amply dealt with. Counted in with these books should be the six on the state which I wrote when I held the reins of the state. This great topic is peculiarly suited to philosophy and has been fruitfully treated by Plato, Aristotle, Theophrastus, and the whole school of Peripatetics. What can I say about my "Consolation"? It certainly restored me to a certain degree of rationality, and I think others have found it useful as well. Among my more recent books is the one I sent to Atticus, "On Old Age", while, since he became a good, strong character through philosophy, my "Cato" should take a special place among my books. Since Aristotle and Theophrastus, excellent men with a rich and subtle command of language, joined advice on speaking onto philosophy, my books on oratory would seem worthy of inclusion in this list of my books: there were three on oratory, "Brutus" was the fourth, and "The Orator" was the fifth." (my translation)
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