Misoumenos

Epictetus also had a character who captures that price better than anyone.

He took him from a comedy by Menander that was well known in his day, Thrasonides, a soldier hardened by many campaigns, And yet, said Epictetus, this man who never gave way before an enemy goes out into the street at night, when not even his own servant dares to, and weeps and pleads with a slave girl who despises him, and if she grants him the smallest favor, he's in heaven.

Epictetus then asked whether such a man can be called free, and he answered, no. Whoever hands his peace to someone else in exchange for crumbs of affection is a slave, even if he carries a sword and commands soldiers.

In the end, each of us sets the price at which we sell ourselves.