"Let not thy heart be great because of thy knowledge; converse with the
ignorant as with the learned: the boundary of skill is not attainable;
there is no expert who is completely provided with what is profitable to
him: good speech is hidden more than the emeralds[275] that are found by
female slaves on the pebbles."
2. [Silence will be the best weapon against a more able debater than
thyself.]
"If thou findest a debater[276] in his moment,[277] persuading the
heart[278] as more successful than thyself: droop thy arms, bend thy
back, _let not thy heart challenge him; then he will not reach unto
thee.[279] Be sparing of evil words, as if declining to refute him in
his moment. He will be called ignorant of things, while thy heart
restraineth its wealth._"[280]