Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

If so, why did you call him a man? Do we judge everything by looks alone? If that's how it works, then we could say a wax figure is an apple just because it looks like one and smells like one. But appearance isn't enough. Having a nose and eyes doesn't make someone a man — he must think like a man. Here's someone who won't listen to reason and can't tell when he's wrong: he's a donkey. Here's another person whose sense of shame has died: he's worthless, anything but a man. This person looks for people to attack and hurt, so he's not even a sheep or donkey — he's more like a wild animal.

Discourses, Against the Quarrelsome and Ferocious 347 of 388
Human Nature Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

(If so), why then did you say that he is a man? Is everything judged (determined) by the bare form? If that is so, say that the form in wax is an apple and has the smell and the taste of an apple. But the external figure is not enough: neither then is the nose enough and the eyes to make the man, but he must have the opinions of a man. Here is a man who does not listen to reason, who does not know when he is refuted: he is an ass; in another man the sense of shame is become dead: he is good for nothing, he is anything rather than a man. This man seeks whom he may meet and kick or bite, so that he is not even a sheep or an ass, but a kind of wild beast.

Discourses, Against the Quarrelsome and Ferocious 347 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

What stamp is on this coin? Trajan's stamp. Show it to me. Wait, it's Nero's stamp. Throw it away. I can't accept it — it's fake. The same thing applies to people. What stamp do his opinions carry? Is it gentleness? A friendly nature? Tolerance? A loving disposition? Show me these qualities. If they're there, I accept them. I'll consider this person a citizen. I'll accept him as a neighbor and traveling companion. Just make sure he doesn't carry Nero's stamp. Is he hot-tempered? Full of anger? Always finding fault? When he gets upset, does he hurt anyone who gets in his way?

Discourses, Against the Quarrelsome and Ferocious 346 of 388
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Epictetus — The Slave Original

What is the stamp on this sestertius? The stamp of Trajan. Present it. It is the stamp of Nero. Throw it away; it cannot be accepted, it is counterfeit. So also in this case: What is the stamp of his opinions? It is gentleness, a sociable disposition, a tolerant temper, a disposition to mutual affections. Produce these qualities. I accept them: I consider this man a citizen, I accept him as a neighbor, a companion in my voyages. Only see that he has not Nero's stamp. Is he passionate, is he full of resentment, is he fault-finding? If the whim seizes him, does he break the heads of those who come in his way?

Discourses, Against the Quarrelsome and Ferocious 346 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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