Epictetus, Fragments. Long's translation.
“
If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.
— Epictetus on Goodness
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad." in the context of "Epictetus, Fragments. Long's translation." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Goodness" (Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations: Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations, p. 326-29.)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Epictetus
Epictetus (c. 55 – c. 135 AD), born a slave, was a Greek Stoic philosopher. His words were recorded by his student Arrian in the Discourses and Enchiridion written in the early 2nd-century.
About Epictetus
Epictetus (c. 55 – c. 135 AD), born a slave, was a Greek Stoic philosopher. His words were recorded by his student Arrian in the Discourses and Enchiridion written in the early 2nd-century.
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