Some chapters are boring, some are interesting. Some people seem to be a little bland, but when they stand up to speak they passionately set forth on their topic. Grand ideas are floated by some students in the attempt to solve all problems, while others are happy to deal with the details. You open your mouth and say something interesting, and the next day you open your mouth and sound like an idiot. You take it as it comes I suppose. Being in Kingston for classes and discussing interesting ideas with other students always takes me to a little piece from Epictetus that never fails to put a smile on my face:
Remember that you ought to conduct yourself
as if you were at a banquet.
When something is passed around to you
stretch out your hand and take it politely.
If it passes by you, don't ask for it to come back,
it's not its time.
Perhaps there'll be some left when it comes back around.
(Encheiridion, 15)
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