Epictetus: What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? …

Home / Today / Epictetus

Today’s Stoic

What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of thinking that one knows.

Epictetus · Discourses · paraphrase

What it means today

The first lesson is unlearning the false confidence that you already understand. A mind that thinks it knows is closed; the open mind is the only one that can still learn.

Try this todayAdmit one thing today that you thought you understood, but do not.

Today’s questionWhat do I pretend to know that I could learn if I admitted I do not?

#humility #learning #philosophy

X Facebook WhatsApp

Related Stoic ideas

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations

“Waste no more time arguing about what a good person should be. Be one.”

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations

“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations

← Back to today’s Stoic