Epictetus: When a man speaks ill of you, do not defend yourself against…

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Today’s Stoic

When a man speaks ill of you, do not defend yourself against his words, but set right your own thoughts.

Epictetus · Enchiridion · paraphrase

What it means today

You cannot win an argument with someone else’s judgment, and you do not need to. What needs correcting is not their speech, but your own internal reaction to it.

Try this todayWhen criticized, spend your effort on your own reaction, not on composing a defense.

Today’s questionAm I trying to fix their words, or my own mind?

#criticism #defense #mind

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