詭弁

解説

付記

彼は敵の「事実」を掃き払い、 詭弁を白日の下にさらす。 そして誓う――そんな虚偽にすがる者は狂気に駆られているのだと。 だが違う。 死人の胸に載せられた芝土のように、 最も軽く横たわるのは、最も重圧の少ない嘘である。 ―― ポリドール・スミス

管理人コメント

Original

The controversial method of an opponent, distinguished from one's own by superior insincerity and fooling. This method is that of the later Sophists, a Grecian sect of philosophers who began by teaching wisdom, prudence, science, art and, in brief, whatever men ought to know, but lost themselves in a maze of quibbles and a fog of words.

Additional notes

His bad opponent's "facts" he sweeps away, And drags his sophistry to light of day; Then swears they're pushed to madness who resort To falsehood of so desperate a sort. Not so; like sods upon a dead man's breast, He lies most lightly who the least is pressed. Polydore Smith