That makes me think, my friend, as I have often done before, how natural it is that those who have spent a long time in the study of philosophy appear ridiculous when they enter the courts of law as speakers. Those who have knocked about in courts and the like from their youth up seem to me, when compared with those who have been brought up in philosophy and similar pursuits, to be as slaves in breeding compared with freemen.

Summary

In this quote, the speaker reflects on how individuals who have dedicated themselves to the study of philosophy may seem to appear comical or out of place when they venture into the realm of legal discourse. The speaker suggests that those who have immersed themselves in philosophical pursuits possess a more natural and liberated perspective, contrasting with those who have solely experienced the structured environment of the courts. The analogy used portrays the philosophical minds as individuals who have been raised as free thinkers, while those focused on legal matters are metaphorically compared to individuals bound by a more constrained framework.