You tell me what these signs mean for me — life or death, poverty or wealth? But I won't ask you whether these things are good for me or not. Why don't you stick to giving opinions about grammar? Why are you weighing in on things we're all confused about and arguing over? So what drives us to use fortune-tellers so much? Fear. We're scared of what might happen. That's why we flatter these diviners. "Please, master, will I inherit my father's property?" "Let's see — let's make a sacrifice." "Yes, master, whatever fortune decides." When the diviner says, "You will get the inheritance," we thank him like he's the one giving it to us. The result? They play us for fools.
Do you tell me, man, what is the thing which is signified for me: is it life or death, poverty or wealth? But whether these things are for my interest or whether they are not, I do not intend to ask you. Why don't you give your opinion on matters of grammar, and why do you give it here about things on which we are all in error and disputing with one another? What then leads us to frequent use of divination? Cowardice, the dread of what will happen. This is the reason why we flatter the diviners. Pray, master, shall I succeed to the property of my father? Let us see: let us sacrifice on the occasion. Yes, master, as fortune chooses. When he has said, You shall succeed to the inheritance, we thank him as if we received the inheritance from him. The consequence is that they play upon us.