Single Idea 20801

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 2. Wise People]

Full Idea

Zeno held that the wise man's chief strength is that he is careful not to be tricked, and sees to it that he is not deceived; for nothing is more alien to the conception that we have of the seriousness of the wise man than error, frivolity or rashness.

Gist of Idea

A wise man's chief strength is not being tricked; nothing is worse than error, frivolity or rashness

Source

report of Zeno (Citium) (fragments/reports [c.294 BCE]) by M. Tullius Cicero - Academica II.66

Book Reference

'The Stoics Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B/Gerson,L.P. [Hackett 2008], p.42


A Reaction

I presume that this concerns being deceived by other people, and also being deceived by evidence. I suggest that the greatest ability of the wise person is the accurate assessment of evidence.