Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 1.16 ¶2 — Epictetus
From “Of Providence”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 1.16 ¶2
But now we, instead of being thankful that we need not take the same care of animals as of ourselves, complain of God on our own account; and yet, in the name of Zeus and the gods, any one thing of those which exist would be enough to make a man perceive the providence of God, at least a man who is modest and grateful. And speak not to me now of the great things, but only of this, that milk is produced from grass, and cheese from milk, and wool from skins. Who made these things or devised them? No one, you say. O amazing shamelessness and stupidity!
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 1.16 ¶2, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/1.16.2
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesWe grumble about our lot instead of noticing the ordinary marvels around us, such as milk coming from grass and cheese from milk. For anyone modest and grateful, even one small thing is enough to see that the world is not an accident.
Older wording
- “providence”
- — the wise care built into the order of the world
Themes and situations
- Gratitude
- Nature and the cosmos
- Acceptance and fate
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