Epictetus, Golden Sayings 25

A man asked me to write to Rome on his behalf who, as most people thought, had met with misfortune, for having been before wealthy and distinguished, he had afterwards lost all and was living here. 

So I wrote about him in a humble style. He, however, on reading the letter returned it to me, with the words: 

"I asked for your help, not for your pity. No evil has happened unto me."