Epictetus on doing our best

“‘Come then, Epictetus, shave off your beard.’ If I am a philosopher, I answer, ‘I will not shave it off’ ‘But I will take off your neck.’ If that will do you any good, take it off. …

Only consider at what price you sell your freedom of will. If you must sell it, man, at least do not sell it cheap. But the great and pre-eminent deed, perhaps, befits others, Socrates and men of his stamp.

— Why then, pray, if we are endowed by nature for such greatness, do not all men, or many, become like him? Wha...