Characteristics of a philosopher - Epictetus - (commonplace entry from June 2006)

The condition and characteristic of an uninstructed person is this: he never expects from himself advantage or harm, but from externals.
The condition and characteristic of a philosopher is this: he expects all harm and all advantage from himself.

The signs of the one who is making progress are these:

• he censures no man
  
• he praises no man
• he blames no man
  
• he accuses no man
  
• he says nothing about himself as if he were somebody or knew something
• when he is impeded at all or hindered, he blames himself
• if a man praises him, he ridicules the praiser to himself
• if a man censures him, he makes no defence
• he removes all desires from himself and he transfers aversion to those things within power and contrary to nature
  
• He employs a moderate movement towards everything
• Whether he is considered foolish or ignorant, he cares not

And, in a word, watches himself as if he were an enemy waiting in ambush.
- Epictetus - Enchiridion.

(June 18, 2006, Commonplace from journal (Miquelrius) )