Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Enchiridion 21 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Enchiridion 21
Let death and exile and every other thing which appears dreadful be daily before your eyes; but most of all death: and you will never think of anything mean nor will you desire anything extravagantly.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Enchiridion 21, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/enchiridion/21
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesKeep the possibility of death, exile and other things that seem dreadful in front of you every day, especially death, and you will never think petty thoughts or crave anything excessively.
Older wording
- “mean”
- — petty, small-minded
Themes and situations
- Death and mortality
- Preparing for difficulty
- Exile and loss of home
- Simplicity and frugality
- Desire and craving
- Fear of death
- Money, status and wanting more
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