Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

But you worry about losing some money so you won't get hurt financially? Does losing other things not hurt a person? If you lost your knowledge of grammar or music, wouldn't you consider that a loss? And if you lose your sense of decency, self-control, and kindness, do you think that's nothing? The first things I mentioned — money and such — you lose because of outside forces beyond your control. The second things — your character — you lose through your own fault. With the first type, it's not shameful to lack them or lose them. But with the second type, it's shameful and disgraceful not to have them or to lose them. That's real misfortune.

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What Matters Most Freedom & Control
Epictetus — The Slave Original

But (I suppose) you must lose a bit of money that you may suffer damage? And does the loss of nothing else do a man damage? If you had lost the art of grammar or music, would you think the loss of it a damage? and if you shall lose modesty, moderation ([Greek: chtastolaen]) and gentleness, do you think the loss nothing? And yet the things first mentioned are lost by some cause external and independent of the will, and the second by our own fault; and as to the first neither to have them nor to lose them is shameful; but as to the second, not to have them and to lose them is shameful and matter of reproach and a misfortune.

Discourses, How We May Discover the Duties of Life from Names 133 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

If you're a senator, remember you're a senator. If you're young, remember you're young. If you're old, remember you're old. Each role has its duties. But if you go and blame your brother, you've forgotten who you are and what your role demands. Think about it this way: if you were a blacksmith and used your hammer wrong, you'd have forgotten how to be a blacksmith. If you've forgotten how to be a brother and become an enemy instead, haven't you traded one thing for another? And if you've stopped being human — a gentle, social creature — and become a vicious wild animal that's sneaky and cruel, haven't you lost something important?

Discourses, How We May Discover the Duties of Life from Names 132 of 388
Knowing Yourself Human Nature
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Next to this, if you are a senator of any state, remember that you are a senator; if a youth, that you are a youth; if an old man, that you are an old man; for each of such names, if it comes to be examined, marks out the proper duties. But if you go and blame your brother, I say to you, You have forgotten who you are and what is your name. In the next place, if you were a smith and made a wrong use of the hammer, you would have forgotten the smith; and if you have forgotten the brother and instead of a brother have become an enemy, would you appear not to have changed one thing for another in that case? And if instead of a man, who is a tame animal and social, you are become a mischievous wild beast, treacherous, and biting, have you lost nothing?

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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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