On True Wisdom

...arts. For this, a whole or even a very long life is required. If anyone, as they say, running the whole day, reaches the goal by evening, it is enough. That saying of Plato original: "Platonis" is well known—as are many others—which is most excellent, and which pleases both your Cicero original: "ciceroni" and me: Blessed is he to whom it has happened, even in old age, that he is able to attain wisdom original: "sapientiam" and true opinions. I wonder whether you encountered these things in the middle of your path, or if, carried by I know not what winged horse likely a reference to the mythical Pegasus or the "winged chariot" of the soul in Platonic philosophy, you reached them before your time—you who have turned out to be wise so quickly.

ORATOR. I have received the perfection of wisdom from heaven. For wisdom is a gift original: "donum"; moreover, every gift is from above, from the Father of Lights A reference to the Epistle of James 1:17.

LAYMAN. And I admit that wisdom is a heavenly gift. But Paul The Apostle Paul was certainly a great man and a friend of God, who spoke about wisdom not as you do, but rather in this way: "Not that I have already received it, or am already perfect" A reference to Philippians 3:12.

ORATOR. I have grasped wisdom with a desiring mind.

LAYMAN. As the greed for money and many things is evil, so the desire for wisdom is good. But I shall see whether you are capable of containing such a great thing. Certainly that same Apostle Paul, whom I just mentioned, says: "I do not consider myself to have grasped it." And he too was very great who, speaking to God about himself, said: "Your eyes have seen my imperfection" A reference to Psalm 139:16: "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect.". It is characteristic of the wise man to know and confess his own imperfection.

ORATOR. I am called wise.

LAYMAN. Neither your own prayers nor those of others ever made a man wise, but the thing itself.

ORATOR. I am commonly called wise.

LAYMAN. The common people original: "vulgus", by their own right, are accustomed to call the insane "wise" and the wise "insane"—which means they take the false for the true, and the true for the false...