'Dignitatem tueri' in Cicerone: dalla dimensione civile all'istanza filosofica

«Dignitatem tueri» is an emblematic iunctura in Cicero's works. Since the time of Cicero's success and until the critical moments before his death, the meaning of iunctura has changed. Analysing three keywords (otium, honestum and dignitas) and the interrelation among them we can remark a translation from a civil dimension to a philosophical expectation of the meaning of these words and of their use in Cicero. So, we can deduce the authentic philosophical meaning of «dignitatem tueri»: it is a virtuous thing (honestum) to give always the evidence of own dignity (dignitas) in virtue of the personal private dimension (otium).