CHAPTER 3
To those who recommend persons to philosophers
Diogenes said well to one who asked from him letters of
recommendation, "That you are a man he said, "he will know as soon
as he sees you; and he will know whether you are good or bad, if he is
by experience skillful to distinguish the good and the bad; but if
he is without experience, he will never know, if I write to him ten
thousand times." For it is just the same as if a drachma asked to be
recommended to a person to be tested. If he is skillful in testing
silver, he will know what you are, for you will recommend yourself. We
ought then in life also to have some skill as in the case of silver
coin that a man may be able to say, like the judge of silver, "Bring
me any drachma and I will test it." But in the case of syllogisms I
would say, "Bring any man that you please, and I will distinguish
for you the man who knows how to resolve syllogisms and the man who
does not." Why? Because I know how to resolve syllogisms. I have the
power, which a man must have who is able to discover those who have
the power of resolving syllogisms. But in life how do I act? At one
time I call a thing good, and at another time bad. What is the reason?
The contrary to that which is in the case of syllogisms, ignorance and
inexperience.
Back to the Discourses Table of Content