Minucius Felix — Octavius 14
XIV. Thus Caecilius, also smiling (for the impetus of poured-forth speech had relaxed the swelling of his indignation): "Does Octavius at all dare anything toward these things," he said, "a man of Plautine lineage, as chief of bakers, so last of philosophers?" "Spare," I said, "applauding against him: for it is not worthy that you exult in the neatness of speech before it has been more fully pleaded on both sides, especially since your debate rests not on praise but on truth.
And although your speech has delighted me in a great way by subtle variety, yet I am moved more deeply, not about the present action, but about the whole kind of disputing, because often according to the powers of the disputants and the power of eloquence even the condition of perspicuous truth is changed. That this happens is well known from the facility of hearers, who while they are called away from attentions to things by the allurement of words, assent without discrimination to all that is said and do not separate false things from right, not knowing that there is both an incredible true and a probable lie.
And so, the more often they trust assertions, the more frequently they are refuted by the more skilled: thus continually deceived by rashness they transfer the judge's fault to a complaint of uncertainty, so that, all things having been condemned, they prefer to suspend universals rather than judge about fallacious things. Therefore we must see to it that we do not labor again and again in hatred of all speeches so that very many simpler people are carried out into cursing and hatred of humans. For the incautiously credulous are circumvented by those whom they thought good: soon by a like error, all now suspected, they fear as wicked even those whom they could have judged best.
We therefore, anxious because on both sides every matter is discussed and from one part truth is often obscure, from the other side a marvelous subtlety which sometimes by abundance of speaking imitates the trust of confessed proof, let us carefully weigh individuals as much as possible, so that we may indeed praise clevernesses, but choose, approve, and take up those things that are right."
Latin
XIV. Sic Caecilius et renidens (nam indignationis eius tumorem effusae orationis impetus relaxaverat): "Ecquid ad haec" ait "audet Octavius, homo Plautinae prosapiae, ut pistorum praecipuus, ita postremus philosophorum?" "Parce," inquam, "in eum plaudere: neque enim prius exultare te dignum est concinnitate sermonis, quam utrimque plenius fuerit peroratum, maxime cum non laudi, set veritati disceptatio vestra nitatur. Et quamquam magnum in modum me subtili varietate tua delectarit oratio, tamen altius moveor, non de praesenti actione, sed de toto genere disputandi, quod plerumque pro disserentium viribus et eloquentiae potestate etiam perspicuae veritatis condicio mutetur. Id accidere pernotum est auditorum facilitate, qui dum verborum lenocinio a rerum intentionibus avocantur, sine dilectu adsentiuntur dictis omnibus nec a rectis falsa secernunt, nescientes inesse et incredibile verum et verisimile mendacium. Itaque, quo saepius adseverationibus credunt, eo frequentius a peritioribus arguuntur: sic adsidue temeritate decepti culpam iudicis tranferunt ad incerti querellam, ut damnatis omnibus malint universa suspendere quam de fallacibus iudicare. Igitur nobis providendum est, ne odio identidem sermonum omnium laboremus ita, ut in execrationem et odium hominum plerique simpliciores efferantur. Nam incaute creduli circumveniuntur ab his quos bonos putaverunt: mox errore consimili iam suspectis omnibus ut improbos metuunt etiam quos optimos sentire potuerunt. 'Nos proinde solliciti, quod utrimque omni negotio disseratur et ex altera parte plerumque obscura sit veritas, ex altero latere mira subtilitas quae nonnumquam ubertate dicendi fidem confessae probationis imitetur, diligenter quantum potest singula ponderemus, ut argutias quidem laudare, ea vero quae recta sunt, eligere, probare, suscipere possimus."