Discourses, In What a Man Ought to Be Exercised Who Has Made Proficiency; and That We Neglect the Chief Things

Epictetus — The Slave

You pitiful fool! You listen to these teachings while trembling that someone might look down on you. You worry about what people are saying about you. If someone comes and tells you that in some conversation where people were discussing who the best philosopher is, someone said a certain person was the greatest philosopher — your tiny soul that was finger-sized suddenly stretches out to two feet tall. But if someone else who was there says, 'You're wrong. That person isn't worth listening to. What does he really know? He only has the basics and nothing more' —

Epictetus — The Slave Original

Wretch, you hear these very things with fear and anxiety that some person may despise you, and with inquiries about what any person may say about you. And if a man come and tell you that in a certain conversation in which the question was, Who is the best philosopher, a man who was present said that a certain person was the chief philosopher, your little soul which was only a finger's length stretches out to two cubits. But if another who is present says, You are mistaken; it is not worth while to listen to a certain person, for what does he know? he has only the first principles, and no more?