The condition and characteristic of a vulgar person
is that he never looks for either help or harm from
himself, but only from externals. The condition and
characteristic of a philosopher is that he looks to
himself for all help or harm. The marks of a proficient are that he censures no one, praises no one,
blames no one, accuses no one; says nothing concerning himself as being anybody, or knowing anything. When he is in any instance hindered or
restrained, he accuses himself; and if he is praised,
he smiles to himself at the person who praises him;
and if he is censured, he makes no defence. But he
goes about with the caution of a convalescent, careful
of interference with anything that is doing well, but
not yet quite secure. He restrains desire; he transfers his aversion to those things only which thwart the
[p. 2241]
proper use of our own will; he employs his energies
moderately in all directions; if he appears stupid or
ignorant, he does not care; and, in a word, he keeps
watch over himself as over an enemy and one in
ambush.
The Works of Epictetus: His Discourses, in Four Books, the Enchiridion, and Fragments. Epictetus. Thomas Wentworth Higginson. translator. New York. Thomas Nelson and Sons. 1890.
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