“If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you, but answer: 'He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.'”
What this quote means
Epictetus invites us to be humble in the face of criticism. When someone speaks ill of us, instead of defending ourselves, we should acknowledge that we have many other faults. This attitude defuses the hurt and shows great maturity. It reminds us that we are not perfect and that criticism, even unfair, can be an opportunity to reflect on our weaknesses.
How to apply it daily
When someone reports a criticism to you, respond with humor and humility, acknowledging that you have other faults not mentioned.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Epictetus?
Our starting point
A short, practical first approach
Enchiridion
In a few pages, it sets out the central distinction between what depends on us and what does not.
- Level
- Accessible
- Reading time
- 1–2 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
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