Discourses, About Cynicism — In Plain English

Epictetus — The Slave

First, when it comes to yourself, you must not be anything like what you are now. You must not blame God or other people. You must get rid of wanting things completely. You must only avoid things that are actually under your control. You must not feel anger or resentment or envy or pity. A girl must not look beautiful to you. You must not love having a good reputation. You must not be pleased by a boy or even a cake. Here's why: other people build walls around themselves. They have houses and darkness when they do such things. They have many ways to hide. A man shuts his door. He puts someone in front of his room. If someone comes, he says he's not home or not available. But the Cynic must use self-control as his protection instead of all these things.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

In the first place, in the things which relate to yourself, you must not be in any respect like what you do now; you must not blame God or man; you must take away desire altogether, you must transfer avoidance ([Greek: echchlisis]) only to the things which are within the power of the will; you must not feel anger nor resentment or envy nor pity; a girl must not appear handsome to you, nor must you love a little reputation, nor be pleased with a boy or a cake. For you ought to know that the rest of men throw walls around them and houses and darkness when they do any such things, and they have many means of concealment. A man shuts the door, he sets somebody before the chamber; if a person comes, say that he is out, he is not at leisure. But the Cynic instead of all these things must use modesty as his protection;