Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

You'll need to rent slaves and buy some silver cups. Show them off in public if you can. Use the same ones over and over, but try to hide that fact. Get fancy clothes and other flashy stuff. Act like important people respect you. Try to eat dinner at their houses, or at least make people think you do. Use cheap tricks to make yourself look better and more impressive than you really are. This is what you'll have to do if you choose the second path — the one where you don't want people to pity you.

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What Matters Most Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

It will be necessary for you to hire slaves and to possess a few silver vessels, and to exhibit them in public, if it is possible, though they are often the same, and to attempt to conceal the fact that they are the same, and to have splendid garments, and all other things for display, and to show that you are a man honored by the great, and to try to sup at their houses, or to be supposed to sup there, and as to your person to employ some mean arts, that you may appear to be more handsome and nobler than you are. These things you must contrive, if you choose to go by the second path in order not to be pitied.

Discourses, Against Those Who Lament Over Being Pitied 355 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

So are you ready to convince people that none of these things are actually bad? That a man can be poor, have no job title, and get no respect — and still be happy? Or do you want to show off to them as if you're rich and powerful? The second option is for people who are boastful, foolish, and worthless. And think about what you'd have to do to keep up that fake act.

Discourses, Against Those Who Lament Over Being Pitied 354 of 388
What Matters Most Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Whether then are you prepared to convince the many, that not one of these things is an evil, but that it is possible for a man who is poor and has no office ([Greek: anarchonti)] and enjoys no honor to be happy; or to show yourself to them as rich and in power? For the second of these things belong to a man who is boastful, silly, and good for nothing. And consider by what means the pretence must be supported.

Discourses, Against Those Who Lament Over Being Pitied 354 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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