Epictetus

“ The Will of Nature may be learned from those Things, in which we do not differ from each other. As, when our Neighbour's Boy hath broken a Cup, or the like, we are presently ready to say, "These are Things that will happen." Be assured then, that, when your own Cup likewise is broken, you ought to be affected just as when another's Cup was broken. Transfer this, in like manner, to greater Things. Is the Child or Wife of another dead? There is no one who would not say, "This is a human Accident." ”

“ Duties are universally measured by Relations. Is any one a Father? In this are implied, as due, Taking Care of him; submitting to him in all Things; patiently receiving his Reproaches, his Correction. But he is a bad Father. Is your natural Tie then to a good Father? No: but to a Father. Is a Brother unjust? Well: preserve your own Situation towards him. Consider not what he doth; but what you are to do, to keep your own Faculty of Choice in a State conformable to Nature. For another will not hurt you, unless you please. You will then be hurt, when you think you are hurt. ”

“ Men are disturbed, not by Things, but by the Principles and Notions, which they form concerning Things. Death, for Instance, is not terrible, else it would have appeared so to Socrates. But the Terror consists in our Notion of Death, that it is terrible. When therefore we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved, let us never impute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own Principles. It is the Action of an uninstructed Person to lay the Fault of his own bad Condition upon others ”

“ For, if Dishonour is an Evil, you can no more be involved in any Evil by the Means of another, than be engaged in any thing base. Is it any Business of yours then, to get Power, or to be admitted to an Entertainment? ”

“ Come to Divination, as Socrates prescribed, in Cases, of which the whole Consideration relates to the Event, and in which no Opportunities are afforded by Reason, or any other Art, to discover the Thing proposed to be learned. When, therefore, it is our Duty to share the Danger of a Friend, or of our Country, we ought not to consult the Oracle, whether we shall share it with them, or not. For though the Diviner should forewarn you, that the Victims are unfavourable, this means no more, than that either Death, or Mutilation, or Exile, is portended. ”

“ If you ever happen to turn your Attention to Externals, so as to wish to please any one, be assured, that you have ruined your Scheme of Life [9] . Be contented then, in every thing, with being a Philosopher: and, if you wish to be thought so likewise by any one, appear so to yourself, and it will suffice you. ”

“ Like an Ape, you mimick All you see; and one thing after another is sure to please you, but is out of Favour, as soon as it becomes familiar. For you have never entered upon any thing considerately, nor after having viewed the whole Matter on all Sides, or made any Scrutiny into it ”

“ With regard to whatever Objects either delight the Mind, or contribute to Use, or are loved with fond Affection, remember to tell yourself, of what Nature they are, beginning from the most trifling Things. If you are fond of an Earthen Cup, that it is an Earthen Cup of which you are fond: for thus, if it is broken, you will not be disturbed. If you kiss your Child, or your Wife, that you kiss a Being subject to the Accidents of Humanity ”

“ Upon every Accident, remember to turn towards yourself, and enquire, what Powers you have for making a proper Use of it. If you see a handsome Person, you will find Continence a Power against this: if Pain be presented to you, you will find Fortitude: if Ill-Language, you will find Patience. And thus habituated, the Appearances of Things will not hurry you away along with them. ”

“ Be not elated on any Excellence not your own. If a Horse should be elated, and say, "I am handsome," it would be supportable. But when you are elated, and say, "I have a handsome Horse," know, that you are elated on what is, in fact, only the Good of the Horse. [3] What then is your own? The Use of the Appearances of Things. So that when you behave conformably to Nature, in the Use of these Appearances, you will be elated with Reason; for you will be elated on some Good of your own. ”

“ When therefore, any one provokes you, be assured, that it is your own Opinion which provokes you. ”

“ When you do any thing from a clear Judgment that it ought to be done, never shun the being seen to do it, even though the World should make a wrong Supposition about it: for, if you do not act right, shun the Action itself ”

“ It is not necessary for you to appear often at public Spectacles: but if ever there is a proper Occasion for you to be there, do not appear more solicitous for any one, than for yourself; that is, with Things to be only just as they are, and him only to conquer who is the Conqueror: for thus you will meet with no Hindrance. ”

“ When you eat with another, then remember, not only the Value of those Things which are set before you, to the Body; but the Value of that Behaviour, which ought to be observed towards the Person who gives the Entertainment. ”

“ If a Person had delivered up your Body to any one, whom he met in his Way, you would certainly be angry. And do you feel no Shame in delivering up your own Mind to be disconcerted, and confounded by any one, who happens to give you ill Language? ”

“ The Condition and Characteristic of a Vulgar Person is, that he never expects either Benefit or Hurt from himself; but from Externals. The Condition and Characteristic of a Philosopher is, that he expects all Hurt and Benefit from himself. The Marks of a Proficient are, that he censures no one, praises no one, blames no one, accuses no one; says nothing concerning himself as being any body, or knowing any thing: when he is, in any Instance, hindered, or restrained, he accuses himself ”

“ For, perhaps, it is oftener from having no Thought at all about Duty, or preferring Inclination to it, than from having a wrong Notion of it, that Persons are slanderous and injurious: besides, that wrong Notions often arise from Neglect, or Partiality. Supposing all bad Actions to proceed intirely from Ignorance, or Mistake, puts them on a Level, in point of Freedom from Guilt, with good ones. ”

“ Thus some, when they have seen a Philosopher, and heard a Man speaking like Euphrates [4] , (though, indeed, who can speak like him,) have a Mind to be Philosophers too. Consider first, Man, what the Matter is, and what your own Nature is able to bear. If you would be a Wrestler, consider your Shoulders, your Back, your Thighs: for different Persons are made for different Things. Do you think, that you can act as you do, and be a Philosopher? ”

“ For Sheep do not throw up the Grass, to show Shepherds how much they have eaten: but, inwardly digesting their food, they outwardly produce Wool, and Milk. Thus, therefore, do you likewise, not show theorems to the Unlearned; but the Actions produced by them, after they have been digested.
XLVII.
When you have brought yourself to supply the Necessities of your Body, at a small Price, do not pique yourself upon it: nor, if you drink Water, be saying upon every Occasion, "I drink Water." But first consider, how much more sparing and patient of Hardship the Poor are, than we. ”

“ Is any one preferred before you at an Entertainment, or in a Compliment, or in being admitted to a Consultation? If these Things are good you ought to rejoice, that he hath got them: and, if they are evil, do not be grieved, that you have not got them. ”

“ It is impracticable then, that one who supposes himself to be hurt, should rejoice in the Person who, he thinks, hurts him; just as it is impossible to rejoice in the Hurt itself. Hence, also, a Father is reviled by a Son, when he doth not impart to him the Things which he takes to be good and the supposing Empire to be a Good, made Polynices and Eteocles mutually Enemies. ”

“ When you are going about any Action, remind yourself of what Nature the Action is. If you going to bathe, represent to yourself the Things, which usually happen in the Bath: some Persons dashing the Water; some pushing and crowding, others giving abusive Language ”

“ Require not Things to happen as you with; but with them to happen as they do happen; and you will go on well.
IX.
Sickness is an Impediment to the Body, but not to the Faculty of Choice, unless itself pleases. Lameness is an Impediment to the Leg, but not to the Faculty of Choice: and say this to yourself with regard to every thing that happens. For you will find it to be an Impediment to something else ”

“ He suppresses [13] all Desire in himself: he transfers his Aversion to those Things only, which thwart the proper Use of our own Faculty of Choice: the Exertion of his active Powers towards any thing is very gentle: if he appears stupid, or ignorant, he doth not care; and, in a word, he watches himself as an Enemy, and one in Ambush. ”

“ If therefore you will be negligent and slothful, and always add Procrastination to Procrastination, Purpose to Purpose, and fix Day after Day, in which you will attend to yourself; you will insensibly continue without Proficiency, and, living and dying, persevere in being one of the Vulgar. This instant then think yourself worthy of living as a Man grown up, and a Proficient. ”

“ If any one tells you, that such a Person speaks ill of you, do not make Excuses about what is said of you, but answer; ”

“ But we have Reason within us: and it directs, even with these Hazards, to stand by our Friend and our Country. Attend therefore to the greater Diviner, the Pythian God, who cast out of the Temple, the Person who gave no Assistance to his Friend, while another was murdering him. ”

“ But we act just on the contrary. For we spend all our Time on the third Topic, and employ all our Diligence about that, and entirely neglect the first. Therefore, at the same time that we lie, we are mighty ready to show how it is demonstrated, that Lying is not right. ”

“ Stoicism carries Truth into Absurdity; while Christian Philosophy makes all Truths coincide, uniting Fortitude with Tenderness and Compassion. ↑ Happiness, the Effect of Virtue, is the Mark which God hath set up for us to aim at. ”

“ So that, whoever is careful to regulate his Desires and Aversions as he ought, is, by the very same Means, careful of Piety likewise. But it is also incumbent on every one to offer Libations, and Sacrifices, and First Fruits, conformably to the Customs of his Country, with Purity, and not in a slovenly manner, nor negligently, nor sparingly, nor beyond his Ability. ”

“ For be assured, that if a Person be ever so found himself, yet, if his Companion be infected, he who converses with him will be infected likewise.
Provide Things relating to the Body no farther than mere Use ”

“ Women from fourteen Years old are flattered with the Title of Mistresses, by the Men. Therefore, perceiving that they are regarded only as qualified to give the Men Pleasure, they begin to adorn themselves ”

“ Otherwise, take notice, you will behave like Children, who sometimes play Wrestlers, sometimes Gladiators; sometimes blow a Trumpet, and sometimes act a Tragedy; when they happen to have seen and admired these Shows. ”

“ Upon all Occasions, we ought to have these Maxims ready at hand.
Conduct me, Jove, and Thou, O Destiny,
Where-ever Your Decrees have fix'd my Station. ”

“ You must be one Man, either good or bad. You must cultivate either your own ruling Faculty, or Externals; and apply yourself either to things within or without you; that is, be either a Philosopher, or one of the Vulgar [6] .
↑ This XVth Chapter makes the XXIXth of the Enchiridion but with some Varieties of Reading. Particularly, for εν τω αγωνι παρορυσσεσθαι here, is εις τον αγωνα παρερχεσθαι there.
This Chapter hath a great Conformity to Luke xiv. 28, &c. But it is to be observed, that Epictetus, both here, and elsewhere, supposes some Persons incapable of being Philosophers ”