 According to Derrida, this complication is visible in the Greek word φάρμακον "pharmakon", which meant both "cure" and "poison".Derrida noted that Plato argued that writing was "poisonous" to memory, since writing is a mere repetition, as compared to the living memory required for speech.Derrida points out however, that since both speech and writing rely upon repetition they cannot be completely distinguished.