Epictetus Enchiridion
Epictetus: When you do anything from a clear judgment…
When you do anything from a clear judgment that it ought to be done, never shun the being seen to do it, even though the world should make a wrong supposition about it; for, if you don't act right, shun the action itself; but, if you do, why are you afraid of those who censure you wrongly?
The passage follows a public-domain translation of the Enchiridion. The reading beside it is ours.
If an action is truly right, being misunderstood is not a sufficient reason to avoid it. You may need to decline an invitation, report a problem, leave a role, care for a family member, or speak honestly when others would prefer silence. People can misread your motives, and you cannot fully manage that. The important examination comes earlier: have you thought carefully, acted fairly, and chosen something you can defend to yourself? If not, correct the action. If so, do not let anticipated gossip make the decision for you. This is different from being stubborn or dismissing all feedback. Criticism can reveal blind spots. Listen to it. But do not outsource your conscience to every observer. The practice is to separate the quality of your action from the story others may tell about it. Do the right thing cleanly, and allow misunderstanding to be an external cost.
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