Verba Diei XIV

"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus, Discourses

The price of growth is misunderstanding.

You want to improve? To be better, wiser, stronger? Then get ready to be judged. To be doubted. To be seen as awkward, slow, or strange.

That’s what Epictetus is saying. If you want to be great, you have to stop performing. You have to stop caring about how you look and start caring about how you live.

You will get things wrong. People will notice. Let them.

You don’t get stronger by avoiding failure. You get stronger by learning through it. You don’t build wisdom by pretending to know everything. You build it by asking the dumb questions.

If you’re not willing to look foolish, you’re not ready to improve.

So be content to seem stupid - if it means becoming wise. The opinions of others may pass quickly. The strength you gain lasts.

Choose growth, not applause.