Musonius Rufus — Lectures V & VI: On theory, practice, and training

[image: funerary relief (circa 500 BC) depicting wrestlers, Wikipedia]

One day Musonius Rufus, the first century Stoic who taught Epictetus, was having a conversation with his students. Someone asked whether he thought philosophical theory or practice was more effective, if one’s goal is to become a better person. He said:

Suppose that there are two physicians, one able to discourse very…