The Dilemma of Selling Corn was included in Cicero's philosophical work De Officiis, aka On Duties. It was written in 44 BC, specifically addressing his son Marcus. It deals with problems of moral behavior, drawing on the views of different sects of ancient philosophy. The dilemma of selling corn illustrates the main problem of the treaty, namely finding the right balance between what is "honorable" (honestum) and what is useful. The passage may read like a page from a course on business ethics, but in fact Cicero's emphasis is primarily moral in the philosophical sense: the emphasis is on the character of the hypothetical salesman. This individual is considered a good man1 and, therefore, would not increase the price of his corn if he knew it would be unethical. Cicero goes on to discuss the differences of opinion that the Stoic school of thought had regarding the approach to the problem. Through the exchange between the two Stoics, Diogenes of Babylon and Antipater of Tarsus (both flourished in the 2nd century BC),2 it becomes clear that the crux of the debate centers on the relationship between legitimate self-interest and philanthropic obligations linked to others. . It is a moral dilemma, an open problem; the person has the choice of what to do according to their own morals. The story reflects a rich array of historical and ideological contexts. Cereals were the staple food in Greco-Roman Antiquity3; but food shortages were endemic. Prejudice against profiteering merchants dates back to Homer's Odyssey (Bk 8.163-4). In contrast, generous donations from the wealthy elite were both expected and celebrated. For example, in the anonymous Latin romance Story of Apollonius, King of Tyr4, the hero's gift saves a city from the middle of a paper ......an, D., (1997) Friendship in the Classical World ( Cambridge)  Brown, E. (2009), “Politics and society” in Warren 2009 The Cambridge Companion to Epicureanism: pp.179-196.  Ferguson, Everett (2003), Contexts of Early Christianity, 3rd ed. (Eerdmans)  O'Connor, D. (1989) 'The invulnerable pleasure of Epicurean friendship', in Greek, Roman & Byzantine Studies, 30: 165-186  Reydams-Schils, G. (2005) The Roman Stoics : the self, Responsibility and affection (Chicago and London)  Lesses, G. (1993) “Austere Friends: the Stoics and Friendship”, in Apeiron, 26: 57-75  Saller, RP (1989), “Patronage and Friendship in Early Imperial Rome: Making the Distinction,” in Wallace-Hadrill (1989), 49-62.  Schofield, M. (1991), The Stoic Idea of ​​the City (Cambridge)  Stephens, WO (1996) “Epictetus on How the Stoic Sage Loves” Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy, 14, 193-210)