“First off, don’t let the force of the impression carry you away. Say to it, ‘hold up a bit and let me see who you are and where you are from—let me put you to the test’ . . .”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.18.24
This quote encourages us to take a moment to consider our own thoughts before taking action. It suggests that in order to avoid making mistakes based on biases and prejudices, we should put our impressions to the test and always “trust, but verify”. This is supported by the wisdom of the Russian proverb which encourages us to verify our instincts.
