“ When you are going to any of those who are in great power, place before yourself that you will not find the man at home, that you will be excluded, that the door will not be opened to you, that the man will not care about you. ”
Epictetus, Enchiridion (125). copy citation
| Author | Epictetus |
|---|---|
| Source | Enchiridion |
| Topic | power home |
| Date | 125 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by George Long |
| Weblink | https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Encheiridion_of_Epictetus_(George_Long) |
Context
“When you are going to meet with any person, and particularly one of those who are considered to be in a superior condition, place before yourself what Socrates or Zeno would have done in such circumstances, and you will have no difficulty in making a proper use of the occasion.
When you are going to any of those who are in great power, place before yourself that you will not find the man at home, that you will be excluded, that the door will not be opened to you, that the man will not care about you. And if with all this it is your duty to visit him, bear what happens, and never say to yourself that it was not worth the trouble. For this is silly, and marks the character of a man who is offended by externals.”
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