SOCRATES: Until a man knows the truth of the several particulars of which he is writing or speaking, and is able to define them as they are, and having defined them again to divide them until they can be no longer divided, and until in like manner he is able to discern the nature of the soul, and discover the different modes of discourse which are adapted to different natures, and to arrange and dispose them in such a way that the simple form of speech may be addressed to the simpler nature, and the complex and composite to the more complex nature-until he has accomplished all this, he will be unable to handle arguments according to rules of art, as far as their nature allows them to be subjected to art, either for the purpose of teaching or persuading;
-Norbaitek hitz egin edo idatzi behar dituen gauzetako bakoitzaren egia jakin arte, eta gauza bakoitza bere horretan osorik definitzeko gai izan arte, eta behin definitu ondoren, zatiezineraino motetan zatitzen ere dakien arte, eta era honetan arimaren izaera sakon ezagutu ondoren, bakoitzaren izaerari dagokion mota aurkituz, eta hitzaldia horrela moldatu eta antolatzen duen arte, arima konplexuari hitzaldi konplexu eta harmoniatsuak emanez, eta bakunari bakunak, hori baino lehenago ezingo da hitzaldien generoa bere izaeraren neurrian erabili, ez irakasteko ezta konbentzitzeko ere, aurreko hitzaldi guztiak erakutsi digun bezala.