“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
Write your response
Take five minutes with it. No account needed to start, and nobody else can read what you write.
Respond to this passageWhere this comes from
Epictetus’ teaching as recorded in the classroom by his student Arrian.
Epictetus. Born enslaved in Phrygia around 50 CE and freed as a young man, he taught in Nicopolis after philosophers were expelled from Rome. He wrote nothing himself; the Discourses and the shorter Enchiridion were set down by his student Arrian.
Read next
“First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.”
— Epictetus, Discourses
“If you wish to be a writer, write.”
— Epictetus, Discourses
“The true man is one who wants to be always at his best.”
— Epictetus, Discourses
“If you want to be a philosopher, train yourself to be happy in everything.”
— Epictetus, Discourses