Cicero wrote De Officiis in October and November of 44 BC. Shortly thereafter, having failed to stop revolutionary forces from capturing the Roman Republic, he was assassinated. De Officiis, in three, parts, Cicero sets out his view as to how best to live and behave and observe moral obligations. Part one discussed what is honourable, part two what is to the advantage of the individual, part three on what to do where there is conflict between the honourable way and that for private gain.