If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid with regard to external things.
Don't wish to be thought to know anything; and even if you appear to be somebody important to others, distrust yourself.
For, it is difficult to both keep your faculty of choice in a state conformable to nature, and at the same time acquire external things.
But while you are careful about the one, you must of necessity neglect the other.
Book: Handbook
Subtitle: The ancient summary of Epictetus's teachings and philosophy
Author: Epictetus
Chapter: Chapter Thirteen (Chapter 13 of 53)
Sections in this chapter:
Section 1:
13. If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid with regard to external things.
Don't wish to be thought to know anything; and even if you appear to be somebody important to others, distrust yourself.
For, it is difficult to both keep your faculty of choice in a state conformable to nature, and at the same time acquire external things.
But while you are careful about the one, you must of necessity neglect the other.