Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

Keep this idea ready: when you lose something external, think about what you gain instead. If what you gain is worth more, never say you've suffered a loss. Don't say you've lost out if you get a horse instead of a donkey, or an ox instead of a sheep. Don't say you've lost out if you do a good deed instead of making money, or if you choose calm silence instead of pointless chatter, or if you choose modesty instead of crude talk. Remember this principle and you'll always keep your character where it should be.

Discourses, What Things We Should Exchange for Other Things 326 of 388
Freedom & Control Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Keep this thought in readiness, when you lose anything external, what you acquire in place of it; and if it be worth more, never say, I have had a loss; neither if you have got a horse in place of an ass, or an ox in place of a sheep, nor a good action in place of a bit of money, nor in place of idle talk such tranquillity as befits a man, nor in place of lewd talk if you have acquired modesty. If you remember this, you will always maintain your character such as it ought to be.

Discourses, What Things We Should Exchange for Other Things 326 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

Here's the most important thing: never get so close to your old friends that you sink down to their level. If you ignore this rule, you'll destroy yourself. You might think, "But I'll seem unfriendly to them, and they won't like me anymore." Remember that nothing comes without a price. You can't expect to stay the same person if you don't do the same things. So choose: do you want your old friends to love you just as much as before by staying exactly who you used to be? Or do you want to become better, knowing your friends might not treat you the same way?

Discourses, On Familiar Intimacy 325 of 388
Knowing Yourself Human Nature
Epictetus — The Slave Original

To this matter before all you must attend, that you be never so closely connected with any of your former intimates or friends as to come down to the same acts as he does. If you do not observe this rule, you will ruin yourself. But if the thought arises in your mind, “I shall seem disobliging to him and he will not have the same feeling towards me,” remember that nothing is done without cost, nor is it possible for a man if he does not do the same things to be the same man that he was. Choose then which of the two you will have, to be equally loved by those by whom you were formerly loved, being the same with your former self; or, being superior, not to obtain from your friends the same that you did before.

Discourses, On Familiar Intimacy 325 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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