Discourses, That When We Cannot Fulfil That Which the Character of a Man Promises, We Assume the Character of a Philosopher

Epictetus — The Slave

Sit down now and explain Epicurus's ideas using proper methods. You might even explain his philosophy better than Epicurus himself did. So why do you call yourself a Stoic? Why do you lie to people? Why do you pretend to be Jewish when you're Greek? Don't you see how we label people as Jewish, Syrian, or Egyptian? When we see someone wavering between two sides, we say, 'This person isn't really Jewish — they're just acting like one.' But when someone truly takes on the mindset of someone steeped in Jewish teaching and joins that group, then they actually are Jewish, and we call them Jewish.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

Sit down now and explain according to the rules of art the opinions of Epicurus, and perhaps you will explain his opinions in a more useful manner than Epicurus himself. Why then do you call yourself a Stoic? Why do you deceive the many? Why do you act the part of a Jew, when you are a Greek? Do you not see how (why) each is called a Jew, or a Syrian, or an Egyptian? and when we see a man inclining to two sides, we are accustomed to say, This man is not a Jew, but he acts as one. But when he has assumed the affects of one who has been imbued with Jewish doctrine and has adopted that sect, then he is in fact and he is named a Jew.