All the Works of Epictetus, Which Are Now Extant/Book 2/Chapter 26
CHAPTER XXVI.
What is the Property of Error in Life.
§. 1.EVERY Error in Life implies a Contradiction: for, since he who errs, doth not mean to err, but to be in the Right, it is evident, that he acts contrary to his Meaning. What doth a Thief mean? His own Interest. If, then, Thieving be against his Interest, he acts contrary to his own Meaning. Now every rational Soul is naturally averse to Self-contradiction: but so long as any one is ignorant, that it is a Contradiction, nothing restrains him from acting contradictorily: but, whenever he discovers it, he must as necessarily renounce and avoid it, as any one must dissent from a Falshood, whenever he perceives it to be a Falshood: but, while this doth not appear, he assents to it, as to a Truth.
§. 2. He then is an able Speaker, and excels at once in Exhortation and Conviction, who can discover, to each Man, the Contradiction by which he errs, and prove clearly to him, that what he would, he doth not; and what he would not do, that he doth[1]. For, if that be shown, he will depart from it, of his own accord: but, till you have shown it, be not surprised that he remains where he is: for he doth it on the Appearance, that he acts rightly[2]. Hence Socrates, relying on this Faculty, used to say, "It is not my Custom to cite any other Witness of my Assertions; but I am always contented with my Opponent. I call and summon him for my Witness; and his single Evidence is instead of all others[3]." For he knew, that, if a rational Soul be moved by any thing, the Scale must turn, whether it will or no[4]. Show the governing Faculty of Reason a Contradiction, and it will renounce it: but, till you have shown it, rather blame yourself, than him who is unconvinced.
End of the Second Book.