Discourses, That We Ought not to Be Angry with the Errors (faults) of Others

Epictetus — The Slave

So why do we get angry? Is it because we care too much about the things these people steal from us? Don't get attached to your clothes, and you won't be angry at the thief. Think about it this way: you have nice clothes, your neighbor doesn't. You have a window where you air out your clothes. The thief doesn't know what's really good for people. He thinks it's having nice clothes — the same thing you think. So of course he's going to come take them. When you wave a cake in front of hungry people and eat the whole thing yourself, do you really expect them not to grab it from you? Don't tempt them.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

Why then are we angry? Is it because we value so much the things of which these men rob us? Do not admire your clothes, and then you will not be angry with the thief. Consider this matter thus: you have fine clothes; your neighbor has not; you have a window; you wish to air the clothes. The thief does not know wherein man's good consists, but he thinks that it consist in having fine clothes, the very thing which you also think. Must he not then come and take them away? When you show a cake to greedy persons, and swallow it all yourself, do you expect them not to snatch it from you? Do not provoke them;