The Entertaining and Educational Epictetus

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A quote by Epictetus from Discourses Book III Chapter II:

“In logic then you fall short: but have you reached perfection in other subjects? Are you proof against deceit in regard to money? If you see a pretty girl, do you resist the impression? If your neighbor comes in for an inheritance, do you not feel a twinge? Do you lack nothing now but security of judgement? Unhappy man, even while you are learning this lesson you are in an agony of terror lest some one should think scorn of you, and you ask whether any one is talking about you! And if some one comes and tells you, ‘We were discussing who was the best philosopher, and one who was there said, “There is only one philosopher, So-and-so (naming you)”‘, straightway your poor little four-inch soul shoots up to two cubits!”

I love the (highlighted) punch line!

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