 Epicureans are not the only ones whose views Cicero seems intent on marginalizing in this context. Remarkably, he asks the adherents of the New (that is, sceptical) Academy to ‘be silent’, since their habit of attacking any doctrinal view will cause ‘confusion’ and result in the ruin of Cicero’s ‘elegantly arranged edifice’ (1.39). We have indeed just been reminded that Cicero himself is a follower of the sceptical Academy, with Atticus’ ironical comment that Cicero is of course someone who does not follow his own judgement in debate but the authority of others (1.36). Cicero replies that he indeed does not always accept the authority of others but that he is here trying to establish a foundation for states and cities (1.37).