Epictetus · The Handbook
Chapter 48
The position and character of a layman: he never expects benefit or harm from himself, but from outside. The position and character of a philosopher: he expects every benefit and every harm from himself.
ἰδιώτου στάσις καὶ χαρακτήρ· οὐδέποτε ἐξ ἑαυτοῦ προσδοκᾷ ὠφέλειαν ἢ βλάβην, ἀλλ’ ἀπὸ τῶν ἔξω. φιλοσόφου στάσις καὶ χαρακτήρ· πᾶσαν ὠφέλειαν καὶ βλάβην ἐξ ἑαυτοῦ προσδοκᾷ.
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The signs of someone making progress: he blames no one, praises no one, finds fault with no one, accuses no one, says nothing about himself as though he were somebody or knew something. When he is blocked or hindered in anything, he accuses himself. If someone praises him, he laughs at his praiser privately; if someone blames him, he offers no defense. He goes about like a convalescent, careful not to jar anything that is setting before it has firmly healed.
σημεῖα προκόπτοντος· οὐδένα ψέγει, οὐδένα ἐπαινεῖ, οὐδένα μέμφεται, οὐδενὶ ἐγκαλεῖ, οὐδὲν περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λέγει ὡς ὄντος τινὸς ἢ εἰδότος τι. ὅταν ἐμποδισθῇ τι ἢ κωλυθῇ, ἑαυτῷ ἐγκαλεῖ. κἄν τις αὐτὸν ἐπαινῇ, καταγελᾷ τοῦ ἐπαινοῦντος αὐτὸς παρ’ ἑαυτῷ· κἂν ψέγῃ, οὐκ ἀπολογεῖται. περίεισι δὲ καθάπερ οἱ ἄρρωστοι, εὐλαβούμενός τι κινῆσαι τῶν καθισταμένων, πρὶν πῆξιν λαβεῖν.
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He has removed all desire from himself, and has transferred aversion solely to what is contrary to nature among the things up to us. Toward everything, he keeps his impulse relaxed. If people think him stupid or ignorant, he does not care. In a word, he keeps watch on himself as on an enemy lying in ambush.
ὄρεξιν ἅπασαν ἦρκεν ἐξ ἑαυτοῦ· τὴν δ’ ἔκκλισιν εἰς μόνα τὰ παρὰ φύσιν τῶν ἐφ’ ἡμῖν μετατέθεικεν. ὁρμῇ πρὸς ἅπαντα ἀνειμένῃ χρῆται. ἂν ἠλίθιος ἢ ἀμαθὴς δοκῇ, οὐ πεφρόντικεν. ἐνί τε λόγῳ, ὡς ἐχθρὸν ἑαυτὸν παραφυλάσσει καὶ ἐπίβουλον.