Clement of Alexandria · a new plain-English translation from the original language
But not even the most ancient of the philosophers were carried away into disputing and raising difficulties for their own sake — how much less should we be, who cling to the truly true philosophy, to whom Scripture itself expressly enjoins, for the sake of discovery, to search out and to inquire. The more recent of the philosophers among the Greeks, out of an empty and imperfect love of honor, are led off, both in a spirit of refutation and of contentiousness, into useless idle talk; but the barbarian philosophy, on the contrary, casting out all strife, said, "Search, and discovery will be yours; knock, and entry will be granted to you; request, and it will be furnished to you." The word conducted by way of question and answer, then, in the course of the inquiry, knocks at the door of truth so far as appears; and when the obstacle has been opened up by the search, scientific contemplation comes into being.
For those who knock in this manner, I hold, entry to what is sought stands granted, and for those who request in this manner, following the pattern of the writings, the questions aimed at that goal proceed from God — the divine gift of knowledge being grasped through the inquiry that genuinely comes to light by way of reasoning. For discovery apart from seeking is not possible, nor seeking apart from searching out, nor searching out apart from unfolding and laying open, by means of questioning, the object sought so it may be brought to clarity, nor again, once the entire examination has run its course, failing at last to secure the prize, that being the knowledge of the object sought. But the one who has sought can indeed find, and he will seek provided he first grants that he lacks knowledge. Carried forward from there by longing toward discovering the good, he searches honestly, free of rivalry, free of vainglory, both questioning and answering, and moreover weighing the very statements made. For it befits those devoted not merely to the sacred writings but equally to the shared assumptions to press their questions toward some worthwhile outcome, letting the discovery reach its conclusion. For another place and another crowd awaits the turbulent among men and their marketplace wranglings over discoveries, but it is fitting that the lover of truth, being at the same time also her intimate, should be peaceable even in his inquiries, approaching apprehensive knowledge through scientific demonstration, without self-love and with love of truth.
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