--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you see anybody wail and complain…" description: "\"If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave, though he be clad in purple.\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/epictetus-413_complain_if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-cal_2300281.jpg" --- # If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave… ![“If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave, though he be clad in purple.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/epictetus-413_complain_if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-cal_2300281.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/epictetus-413_complain_if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-cal_2300281.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/epictetus-413_complain_if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-cal_2300281.jpg) > “If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave, though he be clad in purple.” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calling someone a slave for complaining, even if they appear privileged, highlights that true slavery is internal, not external. **In simple terms:** Complaints reveal inner bondage. Key Takeaway Examine inner attitudes over external status. Themes freedom inner slavery perception status Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - mental health - social critique - leadership Key Concepts Stoicism psychology of freedom Questions to Reflect On - What inner chains hold you? - How can you free yourself from mental slavery? A Different Perspective External wealth doesn’t guarantee inner freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) ## Related quotes > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [For the next seven days, I challenge you not to complain at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/for-the-next-seven-days-i-challenge-you-not-to-complain-at-all/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [I've never once heard my mom complain about her stroke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-vonn/i-ve-never-once-heard-my-mom-complain-about-her-stroke/) [Lindsey Vonn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-vonn/) > [Don’t complain, don’t explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/don-t-complain-don-t-explain/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [When we complain, we often project onto others the dissatisfaction of how we're dealing with our own lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-forni/when-we-complain-we-often-project-onto-others-the-dissatisfaction-of/) [P. M. Forni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-forni/) > [“People who truly live their lives don't have time to complain or judge others. They're too busy enjoying life and love and everything in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/people-who-truly-live-their-lives-don-t-have-time-to-complain-or/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [Were we not proud ourselves, we should not complain of the pride of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/were-we-not-proud-ourselves-we-should-not-complain-of-the-pride-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [As kids we didn't complain about being poor; we talked about how rich we were going to be and made moves to get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/as-kids-we-didn-t-complain-about-being-poor-we-talked-about-how-rich/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [You could at least complain,” I say. “I adore complaining. It calms the nerves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/you-could-at-least-complain-i-say-i-adore-complaining-it-calms-the/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [You should not complain, it's not attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-should-not-complain-it-s-not-attractive/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Those who are content have enough; those that complain, have too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/those-who-are-content-have-enough-those-that-complain-have-too-much/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [To complain is one thing but to be negative is another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/to-complain-is-one-thing-but-to-be-negative-is-another/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-shouldn-t-get-to-live-in-society-and-give-nothing-back-people/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [I would never complain about the position I'm in or the attention I get. At the end of the day, I'm very lucky to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-would-never-complain-about-the-position-i-m-in-or-the-attention-i/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More Complain quotes > [I know life isnt fair but I still like to complain about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-life-isnt-fair-but-i-still-like-to-complain-about-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-shouldn-t-get-to-live-in-society-and-give-nothing-back-people/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I hope I will not be typecast as a Bond girl for the rest of my life. I'm very proud of being a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-green/i-hope-i-will-not-be-typecast-as-a-bond-girl-for-the-rest-of-my-life/) [Eva Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-green/) > [Don't get anger, force yourself, complain others, waste time, thing much, compare yourself, except, sad, silent, stop thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayanthi-aj/don-t-get-anger-force-yourself-complain-others-waste-time-thing-much/) [Jayanthi AJ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayanthi-aj/) > [To complain is one thing but to be negative is another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/to-complain-is-one-thing-but-to-be-negative-is-another/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Don't complain about being overweight if you're not going to do anything about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-complain-about-being-overweight-if-you-re-not-going-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most restaurant people work much harder physically, on a daily basis, than most entertainers. Though most people in entertainment complain more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rosenthal/most-restaurant-people-work-much-harder-physically-on-a-daily-basis/) [Philip Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rosenthal/) > [Those who are content have enough; those that complain, have too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/those-who-are-content-have-enough-those-that-complain-have-too-much/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I look upon life as a gift from God. I did nothing to earn it. Now that the time is coming to give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/i-look-upon-life-as-a-gift-from-god-i-did-nothing-to-earn-it-now-that/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [At the end of the day I'll be able to keep everything that I really loved about my time with Disney. The friendships won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-boyce/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-ll-be-able-to-keep-everything-that-i-really/) [Cameron Boyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-boyce/) > [Complain and Compare leads to ungrateful living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mielya-saladdin/complain-and-compare-leads-to-ungrateful-living/) [Mielya Saladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mielya-saladdin/) > [I personally think we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wagner/i-personally-think-we-developed-language-because-of-our-deep-inner/) [Jane Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wagner/) > [You should not complain, it's not attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-should-not-complain-it-s-not-attractive/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) Browse all 856 Complain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave, though he be clad in purple.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-call-him-a-slave-though-he-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Complain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-call-him-a-slave-though-he-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/epictetus-413_complain_if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-cal_2300281.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/epictetus-413_complain_if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-cal_2300281.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/epictetus-413_complain_if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-cal_2300281.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave, though he be clad in purple.” — Epictetus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Epictetus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you see anybody wail and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-call-him-a-slave-though-he-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-see-anybody-wail-and-complain-call-him-a-slave-though-he-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```