44. You Are Not the Things You Have

Epictetus takes apart a common boast. You are not the things you have.

These lines do not connect:

"I am richer than you, therefore I am better."

"I am a better speaker than you, therefore I am better."

The real connection is this:

"I am richer than you, therefore my property is greater than yours."

"I am a better speaker than you, therefore my speech is better than yours."

You yourself, after all, are neither property nor speech.

What this means. The things you own and the skills you have are not the same as who you are. Do not mistake a bigger shadow for a bigger person.