Stratagem 34
Original German
Wenn der Gegner auf eine Frage oder Argument keine direkte Antwort oder Bescheid giebt, sondern durch eine Gegenfrage, oder eine indirekte Antwort, oder gar etwas nicht zur Sache Gehöriges ausweicht und wo anders hinwill; so ist dies ein sicheres Zeichen, daß wir (bisweilen ohne es zu wissen) auf einen faulen Fleck getroffen haben: es ist ein relatives Verstummen seinerseits. Der von uns angeregte Punkt ist also zu urgiren und der Gegner nicht vom Fleck zu lassen; selbst dann wann wir noch nicht sehn, worin eigentlich die Schwäche besteht die wir hier getroffen haben. —
Musean translation
Machine-assisted, directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
If the opponent gives no direct answer or response to a question or argument, but evades it with a counterquestion, an indirect answer, or something irrelevant, and tries to move elsewhere, this is a sure sign that we have touched a rotten spot, sometimes without knowing it. He has fallen silent on that point. The point we raised must therefore be pressed, and the opponent must not be allowed to move from it, even if we still cannot see what the weakness we have touched actually consists in.
Plain English translation
Machine-assisted, independently translated directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
If the opponent avoids directly answering a question or argument, responding with another question, an indirect answer or something irrelevant, and tries to go elsewhere, this is a sure sign that we have touched a weak spot, sometimes without knowing it. They have gone silent on that particular point. Keep pressing the point and do not let them move away from it, even if you cannot yet see exactly what weakness you have found.
About this section
Stratagem 34 is part of The Art of Being Right by Arthur Schopenhauer. This page sets the German original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is section 39 of 43 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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