Volume 1 - Discourses - Books I - II - College of Stoic Philosophers

BOOK I. viii. 2-10syllogism, for instance :Ifyou have borrowed and havenot repaid, you owe me the money ; now you have notborrowed and have not repaid ; therefore you do not oweme the money. And no man is better fitted to employsuch variations skilfully than the philosopher.Forif, indeed, the enthymeme is an incomplete syllogism,it is clear that he who has been exercised in theperfect syllogism would be no less competent todeal with the imperfect also.Why, then, do we neglect to exercise ourselvesand one another in this way? Because, even now,without receiving exercise in these matters, or evenbeing, by me at least, diverted from the study ofmorality, we nevertheless make no progress towardthe beautiful and the good. What, therefore, mustwe expect, if we should take on this occupationalso ? And especially since it would not merely bean additional occupation to draw us away from thosewhich are more necessary, but would also be anexceptional excuse for conceit and vanity. For greatis the power of argumentation and persuasive reasoning,and especially if it should enjoy excessive exerciseand receive likewise a certain additional ornamentfrom language. The reason is that, in general, everyfaculty which is acquired by the uneducated and theweak isdangerous for them, as being apt to makethem conceited and puffed up over it. For by whatdevice might one any longer persuade a young manwho excels in these faculties to make them anappendage to himself instead of his becoming an.appendage to them ? Does he not trampleall thesereasons under foot, and strut about in our presence,all conceited and puffed up, much less submitting ifany one by way of reproof reminds him of what helacks and wherein he has gone astray ? 61