Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Enchiridion 12 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Enchiridion 12
If you intend to improve, throw away such thoughts as these: if I neglect my affairs, I shall not have the means of living: unless I chastise my slave, he will be bad. For it is better to die of hunger and so to be released from grief and fear than to live in abundance with perturbation; and it is better for your slave to be bad than for you to be unhappy. Begin then from little things. Is the oil spilled? Is a little wine stolen? Say on the occasion, at such price is sold freedom from perturbation; at such price is sold tranquillity, but nothing is got for nothing. And when you call your slave, consider that it is possible that he does not hear; and if he does hear, that he will do nothing which you wish. But matters are not so well with him, but altogether well with you, that it should be in his power for you to be not disturbed.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Enchiridion 12, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/enchiridion/12
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIf you want to improve, put your peace of mind ahead of worries about your livelihood and about controlling other people, and practise on small things like spilled oil or stolen wine, telling yourself calm is the price of such losses. Other people may not do what you want, so do not make your own calm depend on their behaviour.
Older wording
- “perturbation”
- — emotional turmoil
- “chastise”
- — punish, especially physically
Themes and situations
- Peace of mind
- Learning and progress
- Self-discipline and habit
- What is in our control
- Emotions and the passions
- Everyday irritations
- Being angry with someone
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