Previous Stoicism

TRUST, BUT VERIFY

“First off, don’t let the force of the impression carry you away. Say to it, ‘hold up a bit and let me see who you are and where you are from—let me put you to the test’ . . .”

- EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES

Summary:
Epictetus advises us to be cautious and rational when encountering new thoughts, emotions, or external influences. Instead of immediately accepting impressions as truth, we should pause, examine them critically, and determine their validity before allowing them to shape our beliefs or actions.

Interpretation:
In everyday life, this means not reacting impulsively to news, opinions, or even our own emotions. For example, if someone criticises us, our first instinct might be anger or defensiveness. However, by taking a moment to assess whether the criticism is fair or biased, we can respond more wisely. This principle also applies to modern challenges like misinformation—before believing or sharing something, we should verify its accuracy.

 

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