All the Works of Epictetus · 74 of 100

Book III, Chapter 16

1.He who frequently converses with others, either in Discourse, or Entertainments, or in any familiar Way of Living, must necessarily either become like his Companions, or bring them over to his own Way. For, if a dead Coal be applied to a live one, either the first will quench the last, or the last kindle the first. Since then, the Danger is so great, Caution must be used in entering into these Familiarities with the Vulgar; remembering, that it is impossible to touch a Chimney-Sweeper, without being Partaker of his Soot. For what will you do, if you are to talk of Gladiators, of Horses, of Wrestlers, and what is worse, of Men? “Such a one is good; another, bad: this was well, that ill done.” Besides: what if any one should sneer, or ridicule, or be ill-natured? Is any of you prepared, like a Harper; who, when he takes his Harp, and tries the Strings, finds out which Notes are discordant, and knows how to put the Instrument in Tune? Hath any of you such a Faculty as Socrates had; who, in every Conversation, could bring his Companions to his own Purpose? Whence should you have it? You must therefore be carried along by the Vulgar. And why are they more powerful than you? Because they utter their corrupt Discourses, from Principle, and you your good ones, only from your Lips. Hence they are without Strength, or Life; and it would turn one’s Stomach to hear your Exhortations, and poor miserable Virtue, celebrated up-hill and down. Thus it is, that the Vulgar get the better of you: for Principle is always strong, always invincible. Therefore, before these good Opinions are fixed in you, and you have acquired some Faculty for your Security, I advise you to be cautious, in your Familiarity with the Vulgar: otherwise, if you have any Impressions made on you in the Schools, they will melt away daily, like Wax before the Sun. Get away then, far from the Sun, while you have these waxen Opinions.

2.It is for this Reason, that the Philosophers advise us to leave our Country; because inveterate Manners draw the Mind aside, and prevent the Be ginning of a new Habit. We cannot bear those, who meet us, to say, “Hey-day! such a one is turned Philosopher; who was so and so.” Thus Physicians send Patients, with lingering Distempers, to another Place, and another Air: and they do right. Do you too import other Manners, instead of those you carry out. Fix your Opinions, and exercise yourselves in them. No: but from hence to the Theatre, to the Gladiators, to the Walks, to the Circus; then hither again; then back again; just the same Persons all the while. No good Habit, no Attention, no Animadversion, upon ourselves. No Observation what Use we make of the Appearances presented to our Minds; whether it be conformable, or contrary, to Nature; whether we answer them right, or wrong; whether we say to Things independent on Choice, “You are nothing to me.” If this be not yet your Case, fly from your former Habits: fly from the Vulgar, if you would ever begin to be any thing.