Full Idea
Even the philosophers have descended to the level of drawing distinctions between the uses of different syllables and discussing the proper meanings of prepositions and conjunctions.
Gist of Idea
Even philosophers have got bogged down in analysing tiny bits of language
Source
Seneca the Younger (Letters from a Stoic [c.60], 088)
Book Reference
Seneca: 'Letters from a Stoic (Selections)', ed/tr. Campbell,Robin [Penguin 1969], p.160
A Reaction
How wonderfully prescient! The vast industry of modern philosophy of language exactly fits Seneca's description. I don't quite share his contempt, of course, and I think Seneca would have a bit of sympathy with modern analysis (just a bit!).