Discourses, That We Ought with Caution to Enter into Familiar Intercourse with Men

Epictetus — The Slave

What will you do when someone talks about gladiators, horses, or athletes? Or worse — when they gossip about people? 'This person is terrible, that person is great. This was done well, that was done badly.' What if they mock others, make jokes, or act nasty? Are you prepared like a musician who picks up a lute? The musician touches the strings and immediately knows which ones are out of tune. Then he tunes the instrument. Do you have the skill that Socrates had? In every conversation, he could guide people toward his way of thinking. How could you possibly have that power? The inevitable result is that ordinary people will influence you instead.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

For what will you do if a man speaks about gladiators, about horses, about athletes, or what is worse about men? Such a person is bad, such a person is good; this was well done, this was done badly. Further, if he scoff, or ridicule, or show an ill-natured disposition? Is any man among us prepared like a lute-player when he takes a lute, so that as soon as he has touched the strings, he discovers which are discordant, and tunes the instrument? Such a power as Socrates had who in all his social intercourse could lead his companions to his own purpose? How should you have this power? It is therefore a necessary consequence that you are carried about by the common kind of people.