Basel, Universitätsbibliothek, AN I 8

Sophist This is not even base, but would be like a dyeing and a composition for those who fashioned it and for the herald-scholars, as well as for those who are well-known, and for those who look upon the evil one for a solution. Having been well-contrived, he has rendered manifest even the account of the hyper-ethical eye. But many things were from there; just as all the arts are collective and denominative, being as it were a hand to the one learning everything—not the hands themselves, but simply a sending forth from the hands.

But since a sophist is not only the one who is provoked and sent forth, but also the one who is persuasive and aims at the probable, he also promises all things. For opinion itself is able to speak, both of the poetic and of nourishment. For those who believe somehow think of everyone; it is possible to speak of something manifest and evil. They seem ridiculous who say that it moves itself; similar things have been cured. It was not toward this that he spoke, even to sit beside it; but to those, the lesser among the living beings, whose senses most of all mold them. But to teach the listeners as if things were true based on probability is to mold... but not to draw some things and transcribe others. If they should conceive, they will find, and it was for all witnesses to be manifest, it is not necessary in the same way; for the house also remembers. And perhaps just as this might be both above and below regarding the hunt and the sophistic woman, for he says she is manifold, he has called him a hunter with certainty; nor should one look away from the writings on account of friendship.

Since the house and those who dissolved it held all piety; moreover, of this and for what kind of witnesses. What would they not say of that which pertains to the future, just as in the theaters they publicize the kinds of wrestling-matches? And of the wrestling-matches, having joined in the choking, they can scarcely soften the heath, but not those things pertaining to friendship concerning the good or such things. And as if playing, he honors the father. And it is necessary for every memory to be prepared for the things of such a bold man; he trifles to fall and to surge away and with injustice; but everyone who honors also honors mourning... the whole. And the proverb says the festival remains even after the burial; and the consolation is made a greater metaphor in the full measure; and for every soul to be disturbed by gymnastics is to honor the nourishment of the soul. And the good man guards that of shame, except for the matters of the sophists.

To choose a law for nothing, and the one by the lack of reason to choke on account of the greatness of these things; the house pertains to every piety, both the constitutive and the therapeutic, concerning the hunt. And these sophistic things were altogether in error, proceeding from the reasonable alone, which, however many things they do while conversing with those who labor beforehand, says some things lead to choking. And the difficulties, having mastered them. But we let go of the bold one. Not truly, but sophistically and in appearance; just as the one publicizing the matter of the wrestling-matches in the theaters, they choke and carry them away; but he uses true completions. And as they say a whole part is fulfilled by the common part itself; but what he said somehow and having thought, but in what way, he knows all those who would learn or such things. And just as to play at some such things, all of them, belonging to the games. And in the theaters, as it has been said, the spirit; many things concerning echoes, etc. For many, while wrestling against the divine, but only the versatile and the local in the theaters... hence to do something is not at its peak; they would call them weak in possession; and they will practice. Those who otherwise practice athletic matters, they say they practice outside the circle, taking thought for the purity of winning. And they practice to behold what is right. Since every opinion is of piety; whoever seeks contemplation through action and zeal; which happens through both.