A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus with the EncheiridionEpictetus
Philosophy
A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus with the Encheiridion
Epictetus
Philosophy -- Early works to 1800
present says, You are mistaken; it is not worth while to listen to a
certain person, for what does he know? he has only the first
principles, and no more? then you are confounded, you grow pale, you
cry out immediately, I will show him who I am, that I am a great
philosopher. It is seen by these very things: why do you wish to show
it by others? Do you not know that Diogenes pointed out one of the
sophists in this way by stretching out his middle finger? And then when
the man was wild with rage, This, he said, is the certain person: I
have pointed him out to you. For a man is not shown by the finger, as a
stone or a piece of wood; but when any person shows the man’s
principles, then he shows him as a man.
Let us look at your principles also. For is it not plain that you value
not at all your own will ([Greek: proairesis]), but you look externally
to things which are independent of your will? For instance, what will a
certain person say? and what will people think of you? Will you be
considered a man of learning; have you read Chrysippus or Antipater?
for if you have read Archedamus also, you have every thing (that you
can desire). Why you are still uneasy lest you should not show us who
you are? Would you let me tell you what manner of man you have shown us
that you are? You have exhibited yourself to us as a mean fellow,
querulous, passionate, cowardly, finding fault with everything, blaming
everybody, never quiet, vain: this is what you have exhibited to us. Go
away now and read Archedamus; then if a mouse should leap down and make
a noise, you are a dead man. For such a death awaits you as it did—what
was the man’s name—Crinis; and he too was proud, because he understood
Archedamus. Wretch, will you not dismiss these things that do not
concern you at all? These things are suitable to those who are able to
learn them without perturbation, to those who can say: “I am not
subject to anger, to grief, to envy: I am not hindered, I am not
restrained. What remains for me? I have leisure, I am tranquil: let us
see how we must deal with sophistical arguments; let us see how when a
man has accepted an hypothesis he shall not be led away to any thing
absurd.” To them such things belong. To those who are happy it is
appropriate to light a fire, to dine; if they choose, both to sing and
to dance. But when the vessel is sinking, you come to me and hoist the
sails.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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