Solemn Dissertation on the Philosophy of Silence

extreme dangers. It is silence that restrains precipitation in judgments, averts imprudence in conversations, coerces scurrility in associations, and restores the true freedom of feeling. For the philosopher who is too open cannot be his own master because of garrulity. And the more cracks there are, by blathering whatever comes to the lips, the greater the inconveniences he attracts by his own fault, and he completely loses the praise of true prudence. He is worthy, according to the Greeks, to learn late to be wise, that silence is the safest reward original: "σιγῆς ἀκίνδυνον γέρας".

Hence, those who are about to investigate the origin of the philosophy of silence never fail to turn themselves to the Greeks. Although they are split into various disagreements of opinion, which are better omitted than commemorated for the love of brevity. For that opinion seems more probable which defends that Pythagoras is the author of this philosophy. Among his preliminary teachings original: "propaedeumata", as they call them, that was not the least, to break the ambition and arrogance of his disciples with silence. Diogenes Laertius in the life of Pythagoras. Iamblichus in the life of Pythagoras, chap. 17. and Dr. Jo. Schilter on Pythagorean Discipline, §. XIIX. He imposed a double silence upon them: one perpetual, which was proper to all Pythagoreans, lest they argue with outsiders and those not imbued with his doctrine, and expose it to mockery; another temporary, which the disciples held only toward Pythagoras himself, which others, with Aulus Gellius in Attic Nights, book I, chap. IX. restrict to at least two years, others extend up to five years, as Diogenes Laertius in the life of Pythagoras. Suidas on the word "silence" original: "σιωπή". Servius on Aeneid X, v. 564. I think that those can be reduced to concord. Namely, that Pythagoras punished the disciples with silence for a little while after the five-year period, those who had anticipated the two-year period he had ordered with a certain unrefined garrulity.