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October 01, 2008
'Si tacuisses, philosophus manisses' (If you had kept silent, you would have remained a philosopher) — Boethius
Best quote of the month — maybe even the year.
I suspect it's the basis for more commonly encountered contemporary iterations, for example: "Before you said anything, I thought you were stupid. Once you opened your mouth, I knew."
I've heard all of them, trust me.
The illustration up top is an Initial depicting Boethius teaching his students and is from folio 4r of a 1385 manuscript of the "Consolation of Philosophy."
From 19 cents.
October 1, 2008 at 04:01 PM | Permalink
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Comments
haha I love that Ray! this reminds me of Socrates' apology to his executioners for the crime of being a philosopher and asking dangerous questions though. If he had kept his mouth shut and not stepped on all those powerful toes, he would have lived to question a social norm another day. But then he did say, "Men of Athens, I honor and love you, but I shall obey God rather than you, and while I have life and strength I shall never cease from the practice and teaching of philosophy." In other words he would rather speak his mind and die than keep it in and live the life of a coward. But this is just one of many ways this quote could be interpreted.
Posted by: mira | Oct 2, 2008 2:16:51 PM
My favorite lately:
"Light travels faster than sound.
Thats why some people seem bright until you hear them speak."
Posted by: ray | Oct 2, 2008 9:48:57 AM
Galaxies collidin'? can I see 'em from Alaska? ya betcha! (viz Magnus Manske)
Posted by: teg | Oct 1, 2008 10:42:18 PM
Yes, all that's true, and it's also true that plenty of times the wisest thing would be for a person to speak, but she doesn't.
Speaking as one with no current, paid-up philosopher/saint card, everybody sticks their foot in it, sooner or later, you know? Probably most of what everybody says is crap, and words are used more often to obfuscate than to communicate, but every once in a while (accent on "once in a while") you have to risk looking really stupid. Why, I spend almost 18 hours a day risking like crazy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dvHogknHyI
Posted by: Flatuloethius | Oct 1, 2008 6:04:43 PM
Great Quote!
This feels like a description of myself. That's just my opinion and everyone elses.
Posted by: O | Oct 1, 2008 4:58:18 PM
I read the Consolation of Philosophy for the first time a couple years ago and LOVED it! It's absolutely brilliant.
My favorite quote of the hour is:
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."
(See source here.)
Posted by: laura | Oct 1, 2008 4:15:15 PM
