Stoic Sext: Thursday, March 12, 2026

The Enchiridion of Epictetus

XLII

When any person does ill by you, or speaks ill of you, remember that he acts or speaks from an impression that it is right for him to do so. Now it is not possible that he should follow what appears right to you, but only what appears so to himself. Therefore, if he judges from false appearances, he is the person hurt, since he, too, is the person deceived. For if anyone takes a true proposition to be false, the proposition is not hurt, but only the man is deceived. Setting out, then, from these principles, you will meekly bear with a person who reviles you, for you will say upon every occasion, “It seemed so to him.”

The Enchiridion of Epictetus - translated by Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Examination of Conscience

If this is your last Hour you plan to follow today, the now is a good time for the Examination of Conscience.

Also do this if it is the first Hour you are following today you forgot to do yesterday's Examination of Conscience - now is a good time to do that, as it is better late than never.

Examination of Conscience can be done in the form of a journal - but that is not the only way to do it. You can do it mentally -- as long as you can make sure, without any external actions, that you are in fact doing it. Also - for practice sake, it can be done in dialogue with a mentor. But doing it with a mentor is only recommended for practice sake - and may not even be available to everyone at all.

Above all -- remember that the Examination of Conscience done here is the Stoic version of the concept and none other.

The Old Stoic

Riches I hold in light esteem,

And Love I laugh to scorn;

And lust of fame was but a dream,

That vanished with the morn:

And if I pray, the only prayer

That moves my lips for me

Is, “Leave the heart that now I bear,

And give me liberty!”

Yes, as my swift days near their goal:

’Tis all that I implore;

In life and death a chainless soul,

With courage to endure.

Poem by Emily Brontë, - obtained from poets.org

Stoic Sext for Thursday, March 12, 2026