A man must keep this in mind. When he is called to any such difficulty, he should know that the time is come for showing if he has been instructed. For he who is come into a difficulty is like a young man from a school who has practiced the resolution of syllogisms. If any person proposes to him an easy syllogism, he says, "Rather propose to me a syllogism which is complicated that I may exercise myself on it." Even athletes are dissatisfied with slight young men, and say "He cannot lift me." "This is a youth of noble disposition."
Epictetus would have us approach life as an athlete approaches a contest. What we have learned in philosophy helps us to deal with life's blows. If things are too easy then we are not tested. This falls in line with theological thought on one of the reasons humans were put on Earth - to be tested. We pass the test when we face adversity with a happy heart.
