A man came to Epictetus. The man was heading to Rome for a lawsuit about his social status. Epictetus asked why he was going to Rome. Then the man asked what Epictetus thought about his case. Epictetus replied: "If you ask me what will happen in Rome — whether you'll win or lose — I have no way to predict that. But if you ask me how you'll handle it, I can tell you: If your thinking is right, you'll do well. If your thinking is wrong, you'll suffer. Your opinions drive everything you do."
When a certain person came to him, who was going up to Rome on account of a suit which had regard to his rank, Epictetus inquired the reason of his going to Rome, and the man then asked what he thought about the matter. Epictetus replied: If you ask me what you will do in Rome, whether you will succeed or fail, I have no rule ([Greek: theoraema]) about this. But if you ask me how you will fare, I can tell you: if you have right opinions ([Greek: dogmata]), you will fare well; if they are false, you will fare ill. For to every man the cause of his acting is opinion.