If he suffers matters of the first importance to pass in silence, why amuse us with a mock debate on questions, wherein no man finds himself interested?" The friends of Thrasea desired an explanation of his conduct: his answer was as follows:
Arazo handiak disimuluan pasatzen uzten bazituen, zenbat gehiago ez ote zion garrantzi gabekoetan eskua sartzeari utzi behar?