Does anyone bathe hastily? Do not say that they do it ill, but hastily. Does anyone drink much wine? Do not say that they do ill, but that they drink a great deal. For unless you perfectly understand their motives, how should you know if they act ill? Thus you will not risk yielding to any appearances except those you fully comprehend.
📖 Epictetus
In the passage, Epictetus emphasizes the importance of understanding people's actions rather than rushing to judgment. He questions whether anyone performs daily tasks in a careless manner, suggesting that it's not the act itself that's problematic but rather the haste involved. Similarly, he points out that drinking excessively shouldn't be solely viewed as a negative behavior without considering the individual's reasons behind it.
Epictetus advocates for a deeper comprehension of motives before assessing the morality of an action. By doing so, one can avoid forming judgments based purely on appearances, which may be misleading. This perspective encourages thoughtful evaluation of behavior and promotes a more empathetic understanding of others' choices.
