Musonius Rufus on Straight Talk
"He who speaks the truth must not be ashamed if his words contradict himself." — Musonius Rufus, the Stoic, didn’t play safe with comfort.
Musonius Rufus on Straight Talk, public domain
The Stoic’s antidote to pride.
Musonius Rufus, recorded by Stobaeus (Florilegium 2.31.15), says: «Τὸν ἀληθῆ λέγοντα οὐκ αἰσχυνέσθω, κανἂν ἐναντία εἴπῃ πρὸς ἑαυτόν.» — "He who speaks the truth must not be ashamed if his words contradict himself." For Musonius, stubbornness was a flaw, not a virtue.
Why change matters more than pride.
Musonius taught that humility is the first step towards wisdom. Only fools cling to yesterday's beliefs for the sake of consistency. The philosopher’s pride isn’t in never being wrong, but in loving the truth more than his own ego.
For Musonius, self-correction was strength, not weakness. The mark of a true philosopher? He changes his mind when the facts demand it.
