Epictetus

“ Only he can so speak who has applied himself to philosophy in such a spirit. But if a man reads upon the subject and resorts to the philosophers merely because he wants to make a display at a banquet of his knowledge of hypothetical arguments, what else is he doing but trying to win the admiration of some senator sitting by his side? 10For there in Rome are found in truth the great resources, while the riches of Nicopolis look to them like mere child's-play. [2] Hence it is difficult there for a man to control his own external impressions, since the distracting influences at Rome are great. ”

“ The philosophers, therefore, exercise us first in the theory where there is less difficulty, and then after that lead us to the more difficult matters; for in theory there is nothing which holds us back from following what we are taught, but in the affairs of life there are many things which draw us away. He is ridiculous, then, who says that he wishes to begin with the latter; for it is not easy to begin with the more difficult things. 5And this is the defence that we ought to present to such parents as are angry because their children study philosophy. ”

“ However, in a matter of theory it is easy enough to confute the man who does not know, but in the affairs of life a man does not submit himself to confutation, and we hate the person who has confuted us. ”