Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 3.22 ¶5 — Epictetus
From “About Cynism”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 3.22 ¶5
Then, if he is thus prepared, the true Cynic cannot be satisfied with this, but he must know that he is sent a messenger from Zeus to men about good and bad things, to show them that they have wandered and are seeking the substance of good and evil where it is not, but where it is, they never think; and that he is a spy, as Diogenes was carried off to Philip after the battle of Chaeroneia as a spy. For in fact a Cynic is a spy of the things which are good for men and which are evil, and it is his duty to examine carefully and to come and report truly, and not to be struck with terror so as to point out as enemies those who are not enemies, nor in any other way to be perturbed by appearances nor confounded.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 3.22 ¶5, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/3.22.5
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA true Cynic sees himself as a scout sent to show people they are looking for good and evil in the wrong places. His duty is to examine honestly and report truthfully, without being panicked into calling harmless people enemies or thrown off by first impressions.
Older wording
- “Cynic”
- — a follower of the austere philosophy of Diogenes, living with almost no possessions
- “spy”
- — a scout who reports on what is really good or bad for people
Themes and situations
- Duty and roles
- Judgements and impressions
- Courage
- Virtue and character
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