WHY is it that they have railed at you ? Because every man hates what hinders him. They would have one actor crowned, you another. They hindered you; and you, them. You proved the stronger. They have done what they could; they have railed at the person who hindered them. What would you have, then? Would you do as you please, and not have them even talk as they please? Where is the wonder of all this? Doth not the husbandman rail at Zeus when he is hindered by him? Doth not the sailor? Do men ever cease railing at Caesar? What then, is Zeus ignorant of this? Are not the things that are said reported to Caesar? How then doth he act? He knows that if he was to punish all railers, he would have nobody left to command.
EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book iii. §5. ¶2
Don't let what people say about you effect your personal identity. Stand strong and true to yourself no matter what others say. As Shakespeare said... "To thine own self be true, for it must follow as dost the night the day."
ReplyDelete"Why is it that they have railed at you ? Because every man hates what hinders him... What would you have, then? Would you do as you please, and not have them even talk as they please?"
ReplyDeleteIf we seek both to do right and to win approval for it we will ultimately be defeated in both. When we choose to act rationally, we will almost always come up against those who purposes and aims counter our own. We may take advice, listen to council, even examine opposing views, but ultimately we must retain the choice of action for ourselves, even though some will speak against us.
not much to add here.
ReplyDeleteLove epictetus.