Do not finish the impression. One of the most chiselled rules of the discipline of assent: "say to yourself nothing beyond what the TERMprimary appearances (αἱ προηγούμεναι φαντασίαι) announce." Between the impression and the passion lies an addition (ἐπίλεγε — "you say in addition") that the mind itself makes; remove it, and the passion vanishes too.

Two cross-sections. (1) "So-and-so reviles you" — that is announced; DOGMA"but that you have suffered harm (βέβλαψαι) is not announced": the harm is not in the words but in your assenting to call them harm (7.14). (2) "I see the child is sick" — I see it; "but that it is in danger I do not see": "danger" is already a forecast-inference, not a fact of perception. Stay EXERCISE"at the first appearances" (ἐπὶ τῶν πρώτων φαντασιῶν), adding nothing "from within" (ἔνδοθεν) — "and nothing will happen to you."

A rider on the addition. The close qualifies: "or rather, do add — but as one who knows all that happens in the cosmos" (ὡς γνωρίζων ἕκαστα τῶν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ συμβαινόντων). The prohibition is not absolute: one may add, if the addition comes from knowledge of the nature of the Whole (e.g. "this illness is an event κατὰ φύσιν, within a human's lot," 8.46), and not from blind fear. Not every interpretation is bad, only the ignorant, passionate one. Cf. 8.29 ("wipe out the impressions"); the famous 8.49 pairs with 4.7. The strict term by the word is φαντασία. The governing discipline is assent (to hold to the bare impression, not to add harm).