Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.48 — Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.48
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
Overhastiness in assertion affects the actual course of events, so that, unless we have our perceptions well trained, we are liable to fall into unseemly conduct and heedlessness; and in no other way will the wise man approve himself acute, nimblewitted, and generally skilful in argument; for it belongs to the same person to converse well and to argue well, to put questions to the purpose and to respond to the questions put; and all these qualifications are qualifications belonging to the skilled dialectician. Such is, summarily stated, the substance of their logical teaching. And in order to give it also in detail, let me now cite as much of it as comes within the scope of their introductory handbook. I will quote verbatim what Diocles the Magnesian says in his Synopsis of Philosophers. These are his words:
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.48 (on the Stoics), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.48
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Book VII, tr. R. D. Hicks (Loeb, 1925). Text: Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesRushing to assert things leads to rash and careless behaviour unless your impressions are well trained, and good conversation and good argument go together. Ends the summary of Stoic logic and introduces a more detailed account quoted from another author.
Older wording
- “Overhastiness”
- — rushing to a conclusion
- “unseemly”
- — improper or embarrassing
- “dialectician”
- — an expert in reasoning by question and answer
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- Speech and silence
- Self-discipline and habit
Quote cards
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