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
When you have made this preparation, and have practised this
discipline, to distinguish that which belongs to another from that
which is your own, the things which are subject to hindrance from those
which are not, to consider the things free from hindrance to concern
yourself, and those which are not free not to concern yourself, to keep
your desire steadily fixed to the things which do concern yourself, and
turned from the things which do not concern yourself; do you still fear
any man? No one. For about what will you be afraid? About the things
which are your own, in which consists the nature of good and evil? and
who has power over these things? who can take them away? who can impede
them? No man can, no more than he can impede God. But will you be
afraid about your body and your possessions, about things which are not
yours, about things which in no way concern you? and what else have you
been studying from the beginning than to distinguish between your own
and not your own, the things which are in your power and not in your
power, the things subject to hindrance and not subject? and why have
you come to the philosophers? was it that you may nevertheless be
unfortunate and unhappy? You will then in this way, as I have supposed
you to have done, be without fear and disturbance. And what is grief to
you? for fear comes from what you expect, but grief from that which is
present. But what further will you desire? For of the things which are
within the power of the will, as being good and present, you have a
proper and regulated desire; but of the things which are not in the
power of the will you do not desire any one, and so you do not allow
any place to that which is irrational, and impatient, and above measure
hasty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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