Faced with pain, you will discover the power of endurance. If you are insulted, you will discover patience. In time, you will grow to be confident th… - Epictetus

In time, you will grow to be confident that there is not a single impression that you will not have the moral means to tolerate.

Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may
hear from others twice as much as we speak.

If you commit to philosophy, be prepared at once to be laughed at and made the butt of many snide remarks, like, ‘Suddenly there’s a philosopher among us!’ and ‘What makes him so pretentious now?’ Only don’t be pretentious: just stick to your principles as if God had made you accept the role of philosopher. And rest assured that, if you remain true to them, the same people who made fun of you will come to admire you in time; whereas, if you let these people dissuade you from your choice, you will earn their derision twice over.

Can we avoid people? How is that possible? And if we associate with them, can we change them? Who gives us that power?