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
It is his duty then to be able with a loud voice, if the occasion
should arise, and appearing on the tragic stage to say like Socrates:
Men, whither are you hurrying, what are you doing, wretches? like blind
people you are wandering up and down; you are going by another road,
and have left the true road; you seek for prosperity and happiness
where they are not, and if another shows you where they are, you do not
believe him. Why do you seek it without? In the body? It is not there.
If you doubt, look at Myro, look at Ophellius. In possessions? It is
not there. But if you do not believe me, look at Croesus: look at those
who are now rich, with what lamentations their life is filled. In
power? It is not there. If it is, those must be happy who have been
twice and thrice consuls; but they are not. Whom shall we believe in
these matters? You who from without see their affairs and are dazzled
by an appearance, or the men themselves? What do they say? Hear them
when they groan, when they grieve, when on account of these very
consulships and glory and splendor they think that they are more
wretched and in greater danger. Is it in royal power? It is not: if it
were, Nero would have been happy, and Sardanapalus. But neither was
Agamemnon happy, though he was a better man than Sardanapalus and Nero;
but while others are snoring, what is he doing?
Much from his head he tore his rooted hair:
Iliad, x., 15.
and what does he say himself?
“I am perplexed,” he says, “and
Disturb’d I am,” and “my heart out of my bosom
Is leaping.”
Iliad, x., 91.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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