Οὐδὲν μᾶλλον

The Sceptics, that is the Pyrrhonists, while overturning all the dogmas of the schools, for themselves declare nothing dogmatically. To display their deliberateness they explain the assertions [of other thinkers], just as it would be possible for those to do who accepted [the assertions]. By means of no determined utterance² they show a situation of equilibrium; and similarly too, by means of the utterance "no more [this than that]" and the utterance "an argument can be opposed to every argument", and similar utterances. Now the expression "no more [this than that]" can also be said positively, insofar as some things are similar. For instance, "the pirate is no worse than the liar". But this is said negatively by the Sceptics, not positively, as when one refutes someone by saying "Scylla no more has existed than has the Chimera". And the same expression "more than" [to\ ma=llon] sometimes is used comparatively, as when we say "honey is sweeter than grapes". And sometimes the expression "more than" is used both positively and negatively, as when we say "virtue benefits more than it harms". For we mean that virtue benefits and that it does not harm. However, the Sceptics also deny the very utterance "no more [this than that]", for just as providence is no more than it is not, so too the expression "no more [this than that]" is no more than it is not. Therefore, the utterance ["no more this than that"] means to determine nothing and to refuse to give assent.³ And the utterance "an argument can be opposed to every argument" also concludes with suspension of judgement [e)poxh/].⁴ For when the things are controversial but the arguments have equal force, ignorance of truth follows. There are ten modes, according to which the foundations [of something] were declared to contain some variation.⁵