St. George Stock (modern guide) · 1850–1922
A Guide to Stoicism 4 ¶52 — St. George Stock (modern guide)
From “Ethic”
Original English text (1908)
St. George Stock (modern guide), A Guide to Stoicism 4 ¶52
There were pleasantries even within the school on this subject of infallibility of the sage. Aristo of Chios, while seceding on some other matters, held fast to the dogma that the sage never opined. Whereupon Persaeus played a trick upon him. He made one of two twin brothers deposit a sum of money with him and the other call to reclaim it. The success of the trick however only went to establish that Aristo was not the sage, an admission which each of the Stoics seems to have been ready enough to make on his own part, as the responsibilities of the position were so fatiguing.
Cite this passage
St. George Stock (modern guide), A Guide to Stoicism 4 ¶52 (1908)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/a-guide-to-stoicism/4.52
St. George Stock, Stoicism (1908), text of the Haldeman-Julius reprint “A Guide to Stoicism”. Text: Project Gutenberg #7514. Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA school joke: when Aristo insisted that the wise never hold opinions, a colleague tricked him with twin brothers pretending to deposit and reclaim money, proving Aristo was no sage. Each Stoic seemed ready to admit they were not the sage either, since the role sounded exhausting.
Older wording
- “seceding”
- — breaking away
- “dogma”
- — a fixed doctrine
- “opined”
- — held a mere opinion
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- Pride and humility
Quote cards
The opening line of this passage as an image, with its citation — for sharing or keeping.