A graphic to illustrate an absurdibity, followed by some wise words placed into the mouth of Epicurus by Frances Wright, in chapter eight of "A Few Days In Athens:
Epicurus: "Explanation always approaches or widens the differences between friends.”
Theon: “Yes, but we also entered into argument.”
Epicurus: “Dangerous ground that, to be sure. And your fight, of course, ended in a drawn battle.”
Theon: “You pay me more than a merited compliment, in concluding that to be a thing of course.”
Epicurus: “Nay, your pardon! I pay you any thing but a compliment. It is not that I conclude your rhetoric and your logic equal, but your obstinacy and your vanity.”
Theon: “Do you know, I don’t think myself either obstinate or vain,” said Theon, smiling.
Epicurus: “Had I supposed you did, I might not have seen occasion to give you the information.” ... Well, and now tell me, was it not a drawn battle?”
Theon: “I confess it was. At least, we neither of us convinced the other.”
Epicurus: “My son, it would have added one more to the seven wonders if you had. I incline to doubt, if two men, in the course of an olympiad, enter on an argument from the honest and single desire of coming at the truth, or if, in the course of a century, one man comes from an argument convinced by his opponent.”
Frances Wright - A Few Days In Athens
