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?