Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 2.12 ¶1 — Epictetus
From “Of Disputation or Discussion”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 2.12 ¶1
What things a man must learn, in order to be able to apply the art of disputation, has been accurately shown by our philosophers (the Stoics); but with respect to the proper use of the things, we are entirely without practice. Only give to any of us, whom you please, an illiterate man to discuss with, and he cannot discover how to deal with the man. But when he has moved the man a little, if he answers beside the purpose, he does not know how to treat him, but he then either abuses or ridicules him, and says, “He is an illiterate man; it is not possible to do anything with him.” Now a guide, when he has found a man out of the road leads him into the right way: he does not ridicule or abuse him and then leave him. Do you also show the illiterate man the truth, and you will see that he follows. But so long as you do not show him the truth, do not ridicule him, but rather feel your own incapacity.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 2.12 ¶1, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/2.12.1
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesWhen someone cannot follow your argument, do not mock them or write them off. A good guide who finds a traveller off the road leads them back; if you cannot show them the truth, the problem is your own lack of skill, not their stupidity.
Older wording
- “disputation”
- — formal debate
- “illiterate”
- — uneducated, here someone untrained in philosophy
Themes and situations
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Speech and silence
- Community and our duty to others
- Learning and progress
- Conflict at work
- Family conflict
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