I also learned from Rusticus to write letters simply, without showing off or trying to sound clever. His letter to my mother from Sinuessa was like this. I learned to be quick to forgive and make peace with people who had wronged me, as soon as they were willing to reach out again. I learned to read carefully and not settle for shallow understanding. I learned not to quickly agree with popular opinions. I must also thank him for introducing me to the writings of Epictetus — his moral notes and teachings — which he gave me from his own collection.
Moreover I learned of him to write letters without any affectation, or curiosity; such as that was, which by him was written to my mother from Sinuessa: and to be easy and ready to be reconciled, and well pleased again with them that had offended me, as soon as any of them would be content to seek unto me again. To read with diligence; not to rest satisfied with a light and superficial knowledge, nor quickly to assent to things commonly spoken of: whom also I must thank that ever I lighted upon Epictetus his _Hypomnemata_, or moral commentaries and common-factions: which also he gave me of his own.