Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

The main problem is that people are confused about what's good and what's bad. Different people have different reasons for this confusion. Generally, if they think something makes them look terrible, they won't admit to it at all. But they think being timid shows good character. They think being compassionate does too. They think being foolish is what slaves do. And they absolutely won't admit to things that harm society. Most of the time, people will confess to their mistakes only when they think those mistakes happened against their will — like with timidity and compassion. If someone admits they lack self-control, they blame it on love or passion. They say it wasn't their choice. But people don't think injustice happens against their will. They also think jealousy happens against their will. That's why they'll admit to being jealous too.

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Knowing Yourself Human Nature
Epictetus — The Slave Original

The chief thing (the ruling thing) is inconsistency and confusion in the things which relate to good and evil. But different men have different reasons; and generally what they imagine to be base, they do not confess at all. But they suppose timidity to be a characteristic of a good disposition, and compassion also; but silliness to be the absolute characteristic of a slave. And they do not at all admit (confess) the things which are offences against society. But in the case of most errors for this reason chiefly they are induced to confess them, because they imagine that there is something involuntary in them as in timidity and compassion; and if a man confess that he is in any respect intemperate, he alleges love (or passion) as an excuse for what is involuntary. But men do not imagine injustice to be at all involuntary. There is also in jealousy, as they suppose, something involuntary; and for this reason they confess to jealousy also.

Discourses, Of Inconsistency 178 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

People readily admit some things about themselves, but not others. No one will admit they're a fool or lack understanding. Instead, you'll hear everyone say, "I wish my luck matched my brains." But people easily admit they're cowardly. They say, "I'm pretty timid, I'll admit it. But otherwise, you won't find me foolish." A person won't easily admit they lack self-control. They won't admit they're unfair at all. They definitely won't admit they're envious or nosy. Most people will admit they're compassionate. So what's going on here?

Discourses, Of Inconsistency 177 of 388
Knowing Yourself Human Nature
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Some things men readily confess, and other things they do not. No one then will confess that he is a fool or without understanding; but quite the contrary you will hear all men saying, I wish that I had fortune equal to my understanding. But men readily confess that they are timid, and they say: I am rather timid, I confess; but as to other respects you will not find me to be foolish. A man will not readily confess that he is intemperate; and that he is unjust, he will not confess at all. He will by no means confess that he is envious or a busybody. Most men will confess that they are compassionate. What then is the reason?

Discourses, Of Inconsistency 177 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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