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In today’s society, many people strive to maintain a healthy life by doing the “right thing.” Sometimes doing the right thing is not easy, and many people fall into temptation, making foolish choices that they selfishly believe will help them. Cicero argues that people manipulate other people or their environment for their own benefits which can sometimes harm the person or thing under manipulation. Cicero states, "For a man to take anything wrongfully from another, and to increase his own means of comfort by his fellow-man’s discomfort, is more contrary to nature than death…” (Source A) He means that the selfishness of a man can lead to his downfall. As humans, we are naturally inclined to display circumstances of selfishness, and unfortunately, some people do not know how to act in ways that are unselfish and that help others. For example, in the Bible, Adam and Eve both acted on their impulses and ate from the tree that God forbade them to eat from. This led to their removal from God’s Garden. In the beginning, Adam and Eve only thought to benefit themselves by eating the tantalizing fruit, but they ended up paying a heavy price for their stupidity. (Source D) Some believe that selfishness if the root of all evil and the world will be a happier place if the human race makes an effort to change their selfish ways. A counter-example of Adam and Eve’s selfishness is the September 11th, 2001 tragedy. The firefighters who risked themselves to save other people in the wreckage of the towers’ collapses showed an incredible amount of selflessness, courage, and undeniable strength. Many lost their lives while rescuing others. These brave men and women helped the good of mankind, and their actions will be remembered. (Source G)

Another argument that Cicero makes in his essay is that gaining knowledge is the key to succeeding in life. This is true, because the more a person knows, the easier it will be for him/her to get a lucrative and respectable job. Also, if the person has a strong intellect, they will be able to enlighten others, which could lead to a chain of highly intellectual individuals. This can be related to the movie “Pay it Forward.” In this film, a young boy starts a program as a school project that begins with one person helping three people, and then each person in that group of three people helping another three people, and so on until a mass number of people have been reached. This movie is very effective and it shows how much of an impact one person can have on society. The expansion of knowledge is of the utmost importance in living an interesting, productive, and successful life. Citations: Source A: Trumbull, David. “Cicero on Duties: Book III.” __Cicero____: On Duties__. 2007. Boston Leadership Builders. 3 Dec. 2007 Source B: Cross, Suzanne. “MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO.” __Julius Caesar: The Last Dictator__. 2001. 6 Dec 2007. Source C: __Pay It Forward__. Dir. Mimi Leder. Perf. Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt. DVD. 2000. Source D: __The Bible__. Gen. Source E: Digital image. [Snake Wound Around a Fruit Tree]. 2007. 6 Dec. 2007 &lt;[|http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2854803/2/istockphoto_2854803_tree_of_knowledge_good_and_evil.jpg&gt;.] Source F: http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/movie/pay_it_forward/chalkboard.jpg Source G: September 11, 2001 Attacks." __Wikipedia__. 12 Dec. 2007 .

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