Now the Olympiad Comes On
If you have an earnest desire toward philosophy, prepare from the very first to have the multitude laugh and sneer. He is returned to us a philosopher all at once. Whence this supercilious look? Do not have a supercilious look. Keep steadily to what appears best to you, as one appointed to this particular station. If you are persistent, those who ridiculed will afterwards admire you. If you are conquered by them, you will incur a double ridicule: for trying, and for quitting under the laugh.
Key Insight
The early cost is social, and it arrives before you have earned a different face. Drop the look. Keep the station. Quitting to stop the sneer buys a second sneer that you cannot return.
“For remember that, if you are persistent, those very persons who at first ridiculed will afterwards admire you. But if you are conquered by them, you will incur a double ridicule.”Explore full theme analysis
