Book 1, Chapter 4
Original Latin
7 Sed haec quidem laus Academiae praestantissumi philosophi iudicio et testimonio conprobata est. Etenim nobismet ipsis quaerentibus, quid sit de divinatione iudicandum, quod a Carneade multa acute et copiose contra Stoicos disputata sint, verentibusque, ne temere vel falsae rei vel non satis cognitae adsentiamur, faciendum videtur, ut diligenter etiam atque etiam argumenta cum argumentis comparemus, ut fecimus in iis tribus libris, quos de natura deorum scripsimus. Nam cum omnibus in rebus temeritas in adsentiendo errorque turpis est, tum in eo loco maxime, in quo iudicandum est, quantum auspiciis rebusque divinis religionique tribuamus; est enim periculum, ne aut neglectis iis impia fraude aut susceptis anili superstitione obligemur.
Musean translation
Complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the Latin in separate source-only tasks and reviewed throughout against it. Both books, all 130 chapters and 282 numbered sections; no historical English translation used. Latin transcription credited to the Perseus Project under CC BY-SA 4.0, Müller’s 1915 Teubner edition.
7 Here, then, the Academy’s distinction has been confirmed by the judgment and testimony of a philosopher of the first rank. As we ourselves inquire what judgment to make about divination, remembering the many incisive and elaborate arguments Carneades directed against the Stoics, and fearing to assent rashly either to falsehood or to something insufficiently understood, we ought, it seems to me, to compare argument with argument, carefully and repeatedly, as we did in the three books I wrote on the nature of the gods. For although rash assent and error are disgraceful in every field, they are most disgraceful where we must decide how much weight to give to auspices, sacred observances, and religion. Here we risk binding ourselves, if we neglect them, to the guilt of impiety, and if we embrace them, to an old woman’s superstition.
Plain English translation
Complete machine-assisted Plain English translation, made independently and directly from the Latin, never from the Musean edition. Both books and every numbered section; a separate Latin-source model review covered the entire text. No human specialist review is claimed.
7 But such a distinguished philosopher's judgment and testimony support this point in the Academy's favor. We ourselves are asking what to think about divination. Carneades argued against the Stoics on this subject at length and with great insight, and we are afraid of rashly agreeing to something false or not properly understood. So it seems we must carefully compare the arguments on both sides, again and again. That was also our approach in my three books about the nature of the gods. Rash agreement and error are shameful in any subject. They are especially so in judging what authority auspices, sacred practices, and religion should have for us. If we neglect them, we risk becoming guilty of an offense against the gods. If we accept them, we risk becoming trapped in the superstitions of old women.
About this section
Book 1, Chapter 4 is part of On Divination by Marcus Tullius Cicero. This page sets the Latin original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is chapter 4 of 130 in the work, which is kept in the Roman tradition.
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