Then what makes a beautiful human being? Isn't it the presence of human excellence? Young friend, if you wish to be beautiful, then work diligently at human excellence. And what is that? Observe those whom you praise without prejudice. The just or the unjust? The just. The even-tempered or the undisciplined? The even-tempered. The self-controlled or the uncontrolled? The self-controlled. In making yourself that kind of person, you will become beautiful-but to the extent you ignore these qualities, you'll be ugly, even if you use every trick in the book to appear beautiful. -EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.1.6b–9
According to Epictetus, true beauty in a human being is defined by the presence of human excellence rather than mere physical appearance. He emphasizes the importance of striving for qualities such as justice, self-control, and emotional balance. To be truly beautiful, one must diligently cultivate these virtues and embody them in daily life, as this internal excellence reflects external beauty.
The philosopher's message underlines that superficial efforts to appear attractive are futile if they are not backed by genuine moral character. Ignoring the significance of these qualities leads to an ugliness that no cosmetic or deceptive tactic can disguise. Therefore, the pursuit of personal excellence is identified as the key to achieving real beauty.
