Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Enchiridion 22 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Enchiridion 22
If you desire philosophy, prepare yourself from the beginning to be ridiculed, to expect that many will sneer at you, and say, He has all at once returned to us as a philosopher; and whence does he get this supercilious look for us? Do you not show a supercilious look; but hold on to the things which seem to you best as one appointed by God to this station. And remember that if you abide in the same principles, these men who first ridiculed will afterwards admire you: but if you shall have been overpowered by them, you will bring on yourself double ridicule.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Enchiridion 22, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/enchiridion/22
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIf you take up philosophy, or any serious change in how you live, expect people to mock you and accuse you of looking down on them. Do not act superior, just hold on to what you think is best; if you stay steady, the same people will come to admire you, but if you give in, you will be mocked twice over.
Older wording
- “supercilious”
- — arrogant, looking down on others
Themes and situations
- Learning and progress
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Insult and criticism
- Courage
- Resilience and endurance
- Being criticised or insulted
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