Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 1.9 ¶7 — Epictetus
From “How from the Fact That We Are Akin to God a Man May Proceed to the Consequences”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 1.9 ¶7
Thus also Musonius Rufus, in order to try me, used to say: This and this will befall you from your master; and when I replied that these were things which happen in the ordinary course of human affairs. Why then, said he, should I ask him for anything when I can obtain it from you? For, in fact, what a man has from himself, it is superfluous and foolish to receive from another? Shall I then, who am able to receive from myself greatness of soul and a generous spirit, receive from you land and money or a magisterial office? I hope not: I will not be so ignorant about my own possessions. But when a man is cowardly and mean, what else must be done for him than to write letters as you would about a corpse. Please to grant us the body of a certain person and a sextarius of poor blood. For such a person is, in fact, a carcass and a sextarius (a certain quantity) of blood, and nothing more. But if he were anything more, he would know that one man is not miserable through the means of another.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 1.9 ¶7, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/1.9.7
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesThere is no point asking another person for what you can supply yourself, such as greatness of soul and a generous spirit, so you need not beg for land, money or office. Someone cowardly and mean is little more than a carcass, but anyone who knows his own worth knows that one person cannot make him miserable.
Older wording
- “sextarius”
- — a small Roman liquid measure, roughly half a litre
- “magisterial office”
- — a public post as a Roman magistrate
Themes and situations
- What is in our control
- Freedom
- Courage
- Virtue and character
- Wealth and poverty
- A difficult boss
- A career setback
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