Epictetus Enchiridion
Epictetus: For remember that, if you adhere to the same…
For remember that, if you adhere to the same point, those very persons who at first ridiculed will afterwards admire you. But if you are conquered by them, you will incur a double ridicule.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of the Enchiridion. The reading beside it is ours.
People often ridicule a change before they understand it. Start exercising, stop drinking, leave a draining job, or set a boundary with your family, and someone may call you dramatic or difficult. Their reaction can tempt you to abandon a good decision just to restore social comfort. Epictetus points out that consistency changes the picture over time. What initially looked strange may later look like discipline, and even those who mocked you may respect it. That should not become a new reason to seek approval. The real point is to remain anchored to your judgment rather than to the audience's first reaction. If you have examined a course of action and found it right, give it time to prove itself. Do not keep changing your principles to avoid a few awkward comments. Quiet persistence is often more persuasive than a perfect explanation.
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