47–48
Lycinus It is not original; I borrow it from one of the wise men: ‘Be sober and doubt all things,’ says he. If we do not believe everything we are told, but behave like jurymen who suspend judgement till they have heard the other side, we may have no difficulty in getting out of the labyrinths.
Hermotimus A good plan; let us try it.
Lycinus Very well, which shall we start with? However, that will make no difference; we may begin with whomsoever we fancy, Pythagoras, say; how long shall we allow for learning the whole of Pythagoreanism? and do not omit the five years of silence; including those, I suppose thirty altogether will do; or, if you do not like that, still we cannot put it lower than twenty.
Hermotimus Put it at that.
Lycinus Plato will come next with as many more, and then Aristotle cannot do with less.
Lycinus As to Chrysippus, I need not ask you; you have told me already that forty is barely enough.
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