M

May 3rd

SHOW,   NOT TELL,   WHAT    YOU KNOW

“Those  who receive the bare    theories    immediately want    to  spew    them,   as  an  upset   stomach does

its food.   First   digest  your    theories    and you won’t   throw   them    up. Otherwise   they    will    be  raw,

spoiled,    and not nourishing. After   you’ve  digested    them,   show    us  the changes in  your    reasoned

choices,    just    like    the shoulders   of  gymnasts    display their   diet    and training,   and as  the craft   of

artisans    show    in  what    they’ve learned.”

—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.21.1–3

any of the Stoic aphorisms are simple to remember and even sound smart when quoted. But that’s
not what philosophy is really about. The goal is to turn these words into works. As Musonius Rufus
put it, the justification for philosophy is when “one brings together sound teaching with sound conduct.”
Today, or anytime, when you catch yourself wanting to condescendingly drop some knowledge that
you have, grab it and ask: Would I be better saying words or letting my actions and choices illustrate
that knowledge for me?