Golden Sayings   

all these things through the rod of Hermes shall be turned to
profit.

CVII

Till then these sound opinions have taken firm root in you,
and you have gained a measure of strength for your security, I
counsel you to be cautious in associating with the uninstructed.
Else whatever impressions you receive upon the tablets of your
mind in the School will day by day melt and disappear, like wax
in the sun. Withdraw then somewhere far from tge sun, while you
have these waxen sentiments.

CVIII

We must approach this matter in a different way; it is great
and mystical: it is no common thing; nor given to every man.
Wisdom alone, it may be, will not suffice for the care of youth:
a man needs also a certain measure of readiness--an aptitude for
the office; aye, and certain bodily qualities; and above all, to
be counselled of God Himself to undertake this post; even as He
counselled Socrates to fill the post of one who confutes error,
assigning to Diogenes the royal office of high reproof, and to
Zeno that of positive instruction. Whereas you would fain set
up for a physician provided with nothing but drugs! Where and how
they should be applied you neither know nor care.

CIX

If what charms you is nothing but abstract principles, sit
down and turm them over quietly in your mind: but never dub
yourself a Philosopher, nor suffer others to call you so. Say
rather: He is in error; for my desires, my impulses are
unaltered. I give in my adhesion to what I did before; nor has my
mode of dealing with the things of sense undergone any change.

CX

When a friend inclined to Cynic views asked Epictetus, what
sort of person a true Cynic should be, requesting a general
sketch of the system, he answered:--"We will consider that at
leisure. At present I content myself with saying this much: If a
man put his hand to so weighty a matter without God, the wrath of
God abides upon him. That which he covets will but bring upon him
public shame. Not even on finding himself in a well-ordered house
does a man step forward and say to himself, I must be master
here! Else the lord of that house takes notice of it, and, seeing
him insolently giving orders, drags him forth and chastises him.
So it is also in this great City, the World. Here also is there a
Lord of the House, who orders all thing:--