 Cicero allows himself a head start on the exposition of Epicurean hedonism by its proponent Torquatus with an initial, critical outline of the theory in Book 1. At 1.23–24 he appeals to the behaviour of two of Torquatus’ ancestors, both stern military men who treated their sons harshly (execution for cowardice and banishment for taking bribes, respectively), behaviour which in Cicero’s view can only be explained by their having put the wider public interest ahead of their own pleasure, contrary to Epicurean prescription.