On Mockery and the Crowd: Choosing Principle Over Popularity

“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”
– Epictetus

There’s a quiet courage in doing what you believe is right — especially when it makes you stand out.

And few choices invite as much unsolicited opinion as being vegan, or Stoic.

The crowd loves comfort.

It loves conformity.

But principle?

That unsettles people.

Because when you stand for something, you reflect what others avoid: accountability.

They’ll Laugh — Let Them

Choosing an ethical path will get you mocked.

They’ll say:

• “Don’t be so extreme.”
• “One person won’t change anything.”
• “Just live a little.”

But behind that mockery is discomfort — a subconscious reminder that every choice is a mirror.

And your clarity can make others uneasy in their habits.

So let them laugh.

That’s not your business.

Your business is virtue.

The Stoic Response

The Stoics knew what it meant to be ridiculed.

They trained themselves to hold their course regardless of the crowd.

Their advice?

• Don’t react.
• Don’t retaliate.
• Don’t expect applause.

Your reward isn’t validation — it’s inner peace.

You are aligned with yourself.

That’s rare.

That’s enough.

You Don’t Need the Crowd

You need only your reason, your values, and your willingness to live by them.

If you can do that, day after day, meal after meal, moment after moment — even in the face of mockery — you’re doing something the world desperately needs:

You’re proving that principle can endure.

So next time someone mocks your ethics or choices, smile.

You’re not here to be popular.

You’re here to be principled.

Photo by Arthur Brognoli