Evil Quote by Epictetus
“If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Enchiridion by Epictetus, c. 125 AD
Recognize truth in criticism, correct genuine faults, and dismiss false accusations with humor.
In simple terms: Fix real flaws, ignore lies.
Address true faults, laugh at lies.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- work feedback
- public criticism
- online comments
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What criticism have you ignored that needed correction?
- How can humor defuse false attacks?
If criticism is vague, distinguishing truth from falsehood can be hard.