State as a ship
Cicero, quoting Plato's masterpiece Republic, compares the State to a ship, on which sailors (politicians who want to rule) fight over the helm (government). According to the Latin author, who really cares about the safety of his own State wishes to look after the government, ruling according to his own political sense.
Identity as a mask
Cicero believes that nature provided men with two personae, two identities that can be compared to masks. One mask represents generally men, that is as human beings equipped with intellect; the other one, instead, represents men as individuals, each of them with their own inclinations and character.
Brutality as typical trait of beasts
Cicero recognizes two different ways to contend: one kind, typical of the beasts, is with the violence, the other one, typical of men, is with intellect. The Latin author does not exclude totally the use of force, that must be used only when words and reason cant do much about a dispute. Quare suscipienda - he majestically writes - quidem bella sunt ob eam causam, ut sine iniuria in pace vivatur: you don't have to start a war, unless your safety is in danger.
