Ch. 3
Concerning such as recommend persons to the philosophers.
Diogenes rightly answered one who desired letters of recommendation from him: "At first
sight he will know you to be a man; and whether
you are a good or a bad man, if he has any skill in
distinguishing, he will know likewise; and if he has
not, he will never know it, though I should write a
thousand times." Just as if you were a piece of coin,
and should desire to be recommended to any person
as good, in order to be tried; if it be to an assayer,
he will know your value, for you will recommend
yourself.
We ought, therefore, in life also to have something analogous to this skill in gold; that one may be
able to say, like the assayer, Bring me whatever piece
you will, and I will find out its value; or, as I would
say with regard to syllogisms, Bring me whomsoever
you will, and I will distinguish for you whether he
knows how to solve syllogisms, or not. Why? Because I can do that myself, and have that faculty
which is necessary for one who can discern persons
skilled in such solutions. But how do I act in life?
I sometimes call a thing good, at other times bad.
What is the cause of this? Something contrary to
whit occurs to me in syllogisms, -ignorance and
inexperience.