Epictetus suggests responding to criticism with humor and humility rather than defensiveness or counter-attack. This response accomplishes several things: it defuses tension through gentle humor, demonstrates genuine humility about our imperfections, and refuses to engage in the drama of offense and retaliation. By acknowledging that we indeed have faults (as all humans do), we remove the sting from criticism while showing that we're more self-aware than our critic assumed. This approach often transforms potential conflicts into opportunities for connection and shows the maturity that comes from accepting our humanity.