I feel friendship towards philosophers, but towards sophists

"I feel friendship towards philosophers, but towards sophists, teachers of literature, or any other such kind of godforsaken people, I neither feel friendship now, nor may I ever do so in the future." These words, spoken by Apollonius of Tyana, resonate with a truth that transcends time, a truth rooted deeply in the difference between wisdom and mere words, between those who seek to elevate the soul and those who seek only to fill their pockets with empty applause. In these words, Apollonius reveals the very essence of what it means to walk the path of the wise. His scorn for the sophists and teachers of literature is not born of disdain for knowledge itself, but rather for the perversion of knowledge—a turning of the noble into the base. These are the people who trade in shallow talk, in falsehoods wrapped in the garb of rhetoric, whose aim is not truth, but their own self-interest.

The term sophist in the time of Apollonius was synonymous with deceitful mastery of words, a kind of manipulation through language. They claimed to teach wisdom, yet their teachings were often hollow and without substance. They understood the art of persuasion but had no deep understanding of what they spoke. Apollonius, who was a follower of the ancient philosophers, held that true wisdom is not born of wordplay, but of action and soul-transforming truth. It is in the lives we live, in the virtues we cultivate, and the minds we elevate that wisdom takes root. To him, the sophist was like a peddler of cheap baubles—shiny but ultimately devoid of value.

Consider the example of Socrates, who lived his life in defiance of the sophists. He was often seen engaging with them, debating, exposing their hollow claims to wisdom. Yet, Socrates did not engage with them out of friendship or admiration. Instead, he sought to strip away their veils of pretense, to reveal the emptiness that lay beneath their words. The sophists claimed to be able to teach virtue, yet they had no true understanding of what virtue was. Socrates, with his relentless questions, uncovered the truth that these self-proclaimed teachers were not men of wisdom, but men of illusion. Thus, Socrates stands as a living testament to the difference between true philosophers and those who seek only to profit from the appearance of wisdom.

Apollonius too was a man who walked the path of wisdom, traveling the known world to seek the teachings of the greatest minds. He was not a man of rhetoric; he was a man of deeds, a man whose life was proof of his teachings. He did not need to adorn himself with fine words, for his actions spoke louder than any sophist could ever hope to. He embodied the true meaning of philosophy, which is not to speak of wisdom, but to live it. And it is in this that he condemns the sophists and those who seek only the praise of others for their words alone. They seek glory, but true glory is in the inner transformation, the purification of the soul, the striving for goodness.

In our own time, we too must beware the sophists that walk among us, those who promise greatness and wisdom without the substance to back it. How many politicians, media personalities, and leaders speak grandly of noble causes yet fail to live according to those very ideals? How many teachers fill the ears of their students with the rhetoric of success, but fail to nurture the heart with true learning? These are the modern sophists, whose words flow as freely as water but whose actions are stagnant. They may claim friendship with the wise, but their hearts are far from wisdom. Apollonius’ words are a warning to us all: to recognize the true source of wisdom, to seek out the philosopher—not in words, but in deeds.

The lesson here, then, is clear. Seek not friendship with those who speak eloquently but live shallowly. It is better to stand in the company of the few true philosophers, whose lives are silent but profound testimonies to their wisdom. Their words may be fewer, but their impact is immeasurable. A man’s character is forged not in the words he speaks, but in the choices he makes, the sacrifices he endures, and the virtues he cultivates. The wise man speaks not to be heard, but because his soul cannot remain silent in the face of truth.

Thus, we must turn our gaze inward and ask ourselves: what kind of wisdom do we pursue? Are we the ones who seek to be admired for our cleverness, or are we the ones who seek to live wisdom in all its forms? In every action, in every word, in every choice, we must choose to embody what we know to be true, and let that truth shine in our lives, like a beacon for others to see. The lesson Apollonius leaves us is this: do not waste your time in the company of the false; surround yourself with those who live by the highest ideals, and let their example be the light that guides you.

May we all seek true wisdom, not in the pages of books, nor in the dazzling speeches of the sophists, but in the quiet lives of those who walk the path of virtue, and whose silence is louder than any boastful speech.