To Florus 2.36
Any educated reader of our works understands that you abuse your supporters’ ignorance and hide behind ambiguous words. The remaining crowd, of whom the prophet says to God, ‘You have regarded human beings as the fish of the sea’ (Habakkuk 1:14), are deceived as they follow one another’s lead. Ignorant of the distinctions that would save them, they think everything they see joined in words can also be joined in reality. Only a very learned and attentive person can judge what follows, what conflicts, and what the invincible and venerable law of argument requires one to infer from given concessions.
Latin
Abuti te imperitia faventium tibi, et delitescere sub ambiguitate verborum, quicumque ille fuerit operum nostrorum eruditus lector, intellegit. Reliquum vero vulgus, de quo Propheta loquitur ad Deum: Aestimasti homines sicut pisces maris [n37] ; mutua praegressione decipitur, ac salutiferae discretionis ignarum, totum putat coniungi posse rebus, quod viderit vocibus esse sociatum. Quid vero sit consequens, quid repugnans, quibusque concessis quid lex inexpugnabilis et veneranda orationis cogat inferri, nisi doctissimus attentissimusque non iudicat.