Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 2.22 ¶3 — Epictetus
From “On Friendship”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 2.22 ¶3
For universally, be not deceived, every animal is attached to nothing so much as to its own interest. Whatever then appears to it an impediment to this interest, whether this be a brother, or a father, or a child, or beloved, or lover, it hates, spurns, curses: for its nature is to love nothing so much as its own interest; this is father, and brother and kinsman, and country, and God. When then the gods appear to us to be an impediment to this, we abuse them and throw down their statues and burn their temples, as Alexander ordered the temples of Aesculapius to be burned when his dear friend died.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 2.22 ¶3, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/2.22.3
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesEvery living thing is attached above all to what it believes is its own interest, and will hate whoever seems to stand in the way, whether a brother, parent, child or even the gods, as when Alexander burned temples after his friend died. This explains why love can turn to hatred when people feel harmed.
Older wording
- “Aesculapius”
- — the Greek god of healing
Themes and situations
- Desire and craving
- Family and love
- Friendship
- Judgements and impressions
- Nature and the cosmos
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