H. E. Butler's translation: But modesty and circumspection are required in pronouncing judgment on such great men, since there is always the risk of falling into the common fault of condemning what one does not understand. Book X, Chapter I, 26 Rev. John Selby Watson's translation: Yet students must pronounce with diffidence and circumspection on the merits of such illustrious characters, lest, as is the case with many, they condemn what they do not understand. Note: The Latin for They condemn what they do not understand is Damnant quod non intellegunt. (Damnent quae non intellegunt, as in the original text, is in the subjunctive mood.
About This Quote
About Quintilian
Quintilian was Roman orator and rhetorician (c. 35 – c. 100). Marcus Fabius Quintilianus was a Roman educator and rhetorician born in Hispania, widely referred to in medieval schools of rhetoric and in Renaissance writing. In English translation, he is usually referred to as Quintilian, although the alternate spellings of Quintillian and Quinctilian are occasionally seen, the latter in older texts. Read more on Wikipedia →