The Enchiridion, Section 22 — In Plain English

Epictetus — The Slave

If you truly want to study philosophy, get ready for people to mock you from day one. They'll laugh and say, "Look who thinks he's a philosopher now!" and "Where did this arrogant attitude come from?" Don't actually be arrogant. But stick to what seems right to you, like someone God assigned to this specific job. Remember: if you keep at it, the same people who mocked you at first will end up respecting you. But if you let them defeat you, you'll look twice as foolish.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

If you have an earnest desire toward philosophy, prepare yourself from the very first to have the multitude laugh and sneer, and say, “He is returned to us a philosopher all at once”; and, “Whence this supercilious look?” Now, for your part, do not have a supercilious look indeed, but keep steadily to those things which appear best to you, as one appointed by God to this particular station. For remember that, if you are persistent, those very persons who at first ridiculed will afterwards admire you. But if you are conquered by them, you will incur a double ridicule.