Solemn Dissertation on the Philosophy of Silence

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...[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. Although I would not wish to force this conjecture upon anyone. See the Honorable President in the Dissertation on the Pythagorean Ascent original: "ΑΝΟΔΩ". Therefore, the celebrated Dr. Koelerus, Professor at Altdorf, had no cause in the Dissertation on Pythagorean Pedantry to bespatter Pythagoras with such a stain because of this silence. For whoever weighs with an accurate scale of judgment how great the affected omniscience of most mortals is, so that, scarcely having been gifted with the basics of wisdom, they immediately know everything and revere no one, he, with Seneca as his mentor, will most highly recommend the Pythagorean philosophy of silence to them see ep. 52. And not only is there prudence in speaking, but there is far greater prudence in being silent, the use of which diffuses itself far and wide through all the arts. Meanwhile, I candidly confess that it merits the greatest reproach in Pythagoras that he inculcated his own he himself said it original: "αὐτὸς ἔφα" to his disciples in place of demonstrations, see the Honorable President in the cited Dissertation §. IV. note (n).

I am not, however, moved from this opinion by those who suppose that Harpocrates was the author of the philosophy of silence. Without a doubt, they look to that image of the Egyptians, which that nation, addicted to superstition above all others, proposed to be worshipped in the rites of Isis and Serapis; concerning which the distinguished legal expert and philologist, Alexander ab Alexandro Book III, Genial Days, chap. 59. shows that Harpocrates was depicted as the GOD of silence, pressing his finger to his mouth. Response: I have not wished to derive the philosophy of silence from ancient fables, seeing as they reek of the idolatry of the nations, with the truth turned into a mask. If anything is to be granted to these, however, Harpocrates is not so strongly opposed to my opinion. For it is credible that Pythagoras, who visited Egypt during his travels, was not a little initiated into the rites of the Egyptians. This the Honorable President did not hide in the often-cited Dissertation §. VII. the fame of the Egyptian