Book 2, Chapter 3
To Those Who Refer People to Philosophers
Diogenes said well to one who asked from him letters of recommendation, "That you are a man, he said, he will know as soon as he sees you; and he will know whether you are good or bad, if he is by experience skilful to distinguish the good and the bad; but if he is without experience, he will never know, if I write to him ten thousand times." For it is just the same as if a drachma (a piece of silver money) asked to be recommended to a person to be tested. If he is skilful in testing silver, he will know what you are, for you (the drachma) will recommend yourself. We ought then in life also to have some skill as in the case of silver coin that a man may be able to say like the judge of silver, Bring me any drachma and I will test it. But in the case of syllogisms, I would say, Bring any man that you please, and I will distinguish for you the man who knows how to resolve syllogisms and the man who does not. Why? Because I know how to resolve syllogisms. I have the power, which a man must have who is able to discover those who have the power of resolving syllogisms. But in life how do I act? At one time I call a thing good, and at another time bad. What is the reason? The contrary to that which is in the case of syllogisms, ignorance and inexperience.
Diogenes gave a good answer to someone who asked him for letters of recommendation. "He will know you are a man as soon as he sees you. If experience has taught him to distinguish good people from bad, he will know which you are. But if he has no experience, he will never know, even if I write to him ten thousand times." This is just like a drachma, a silver coin, asking for a recommendation to someone who tests silver. If he is skilled at testing silver, he will know what you are. You, the drachma, will recommend yourself. In life, then, we should have the same kind of skill as the person who tests silver coins. We should be able to say, as he does, "Bring me any drachma and I will test it." When it comes to syllogisms, I would say, "Bring me anyone you like. I will tell you who knows how to solve syllogisms and who does not." Why? Because I know how to solve syllogisms. I have the ability a person needs to recognize others who can solve them. But how do I act in life? At one time I call something good, and at another I call it bad. Why? Because, unlike with syllogisms, I lack knowledge and experience.
Mrs. Carter says 'This is one of the many extravagant refinements of the philosophers; and might lead persons into very dangerous mistakes, if it was laid down as a maxim in ordinary life.' I think Mrs. Carter has misunderstood Epictetus. The philosopher discovers a man's character by testing him, just as an assayer tests silver. Cicero (De legibus, i. 9) says that the face reveals a person's hidden character. Euripides (Medea, 518) puts it better. He says that no mark on the body allows us to distinguish a good man from a bad one. Shakspere says
There's no art To find the mind's construction in the face. Macbeth, act i. sc. 4
There is no way to read a person's mind from their face. Macbeth, act 1, scene 4