Living quietly

Perhaps in response to Epicurus, Epictetus rails against "those intent on living quietly."

"A quiet life," for Epictetus, is just another possession, an external that threatens to enslave he who desires it - "you will always have to serve the person who can secure your release, or the person who cab block your way."

Instead, the goal is to be "happy, unflappable and equal to every occasion" even if circumstances call for you assume responsibilities.

You who seeks the quiet life are just like the masses, "the only difference being that they are afraid they will not hold office, while you are afraid you will."

Epictetus has a point on the Epicurean notion of retreat into the quiet life - you always remain vulnerable to anyone who can disrupt your peaceful setting. Epicurus is aware of this, and views as "good" anything that protects you from other people. But that just highlights how physically (external) vulnerable we are, most of the time, to other people.

Epicurus would also counter with something like 'be realistic - you are going to apply yourself to some external activities. Just be sure those activities bring you pleasure, not pain; and the quiet life is the path most conducive to pleasure.'