Stoic Quote: Epictetus on Approval: Why Seeking Praise Ruins Your Integrity

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.

In this Stoic Quotes episode, Benny reflects on Epictetus’ teaching from the Handbook (Enchiridion 23):

“If it ever happens that you turn to external things in the desire to please some other person, realize that you have ruined your scheme of life. Be content then with being a philosopher in everything; and if you wish also to be seen as one, show yourself that you are one, and you will be able to achieve it.”

Epictetus reminds us that chasing approval from others comes at the cost of our own integrity. When we shape our lives around external opinions, we compromise the only thing that is truly ours—our character. Instead, the Stoic path asks us to be satisfied with living according to virtue and reason, regardless of how others may see us.

In this episode, Benny unpacks how people-pleasing undermines freedom, why approval is an unstable foundation for peace, and how journaling and self-reflection can help us become our own witness. You’ll hear how Stoic philosophy offers a way to step away from external validation and return to the inner compass of virtue.

Perfect for anyone exploring Epictetus’s quotes on approval, the Stoic discipline of desire, and the challenge of staying true to your own principles in a world full of opinions.

You can also check out this post to learn more about the background of this quote: https://viastoica.com/how-to-live-as-a-stoic-philosopher/

In the Stoic Quotes series, we uncover timeless wisdom from Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and more—exploring what they meant then and how we can live them today.

If you are looking for more quotes like this one, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of Stoic sayings with full references to the original texts.

🔗 viastoica.com/stoic-quotes🔗 viastoica.com/epictetus-quotes🔗 viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes🔗 viastoica.com/seneca-quotes

Make sure to subscribe for more quote episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer Stoic discussions. Leave a comment if you have thoughts or questions—we might feature them in a future episode.

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