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April 22
Day 112/365: Epictetus on not displaying the fruit too soon
Logan
April 22, 2025
Welcome to The Stoic Ledger, a daily money meditation from one of the Stoic sages.
112/365: Epictetus on not displaying the fruit too soon
“First practice not letting people know who you are—keep your philosophy to yourself for a bit. In just the manner that fruit is produced—the seed buried for a season, hidden growing gradually so it may come to full maturity. But if the grain sprouts before the stalk is fully developed, it will never ripen…That is the kind of plant you are, displaying fruit too soon, and the winter will kill you.” – Epictetus
Changing habits requires a period of solitude and hidden growth. Start talking about the new budget too soon and you’ll find resistance from peers that are used to the old you, peers that are afraid you will change, afraid that you won’t go out with them.
Their resistance is not out of malice, but fear. Yet it’s equally capable of killing the fruit you’ve yet to produce.
Once your new roots start to develop, you’ll find more freedom to share. The loyal and supportive network will always be there, but inevitably there will be pieces that require replacement. People that don’t understand your new fruit, your new objectives, your new philosophy.
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