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March 31
Day 90/365: Epictetus on first impressions
Logan
March 31, 2025
Welcome to The Stoic Ledger, a daily money meditation from one of the Stoic sages.
90/365: Epictetus on first Impressions
“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
There are times when making split-second decisions from first impressions serves us well. Ultimately, our job is to determine the pattern sets that merit these quick impressions, and distinguish from when we must give pause, step back, and think for a minute.
This time is crucial. And in this time we must question, we must test, what we see in front of us.
Is this true?
What if I sought external wisdom to verify my impression?
This test can save our dollars and reputation from rash destruction.
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