Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Enchiridion 13 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Enchiridion 13
If you would improve, submit to be considered without sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing: and if you shall seem to some to be a person of importance, distrust yourself. For you should know that it is not easy both to keep your will in a condition conformable to nature and (to secure) external things: but if a man is careful about the one, it is an absolute necessity that he will neglect the other.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Enchiridion 13, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/enchiridion/13
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIf you want to grow, accept looking foolish or ignorant to others in matters of status and outward success, and be suspicious of yourself if people start to see you as important. You cannot look after both your character and external advantages equally well, since caring for one means neglecting the other.
Older wording
- “externals”
- — things outside your own choices, such as status and possessions
- “conformable to nature”
- — in line with your reasoning nature
Themes and situations
- Pride and humility
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Learning and progress
- What is in our control
- Being criticised or insulted
- Handling success
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