Epictetus (50ce - 130ce) was a Roman slave who dedicated himself to philosophy on being freed. Although he never wrote his thoughts, The Enchiridion is a collection of his maxims as transcribed by a student. Epictetus is known for his teaching of the brotherhood of man as well as his belief that “one should act in life as at a banquet by taking a polite portion of all that is offered.” I encourage you to take a polite bite of this wisdom…

If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and if you shall seem to someone to be a person of importance, distrust yourself.

It is a mark of a mean capacity to spend much time on the things which concern the body, such as much exercise, much eating, much drinking, much easing of the body, much copulation. But these things should be done as subordinate things: and let all your care be directed to the mind.