Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Enchiridion 23 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Enchiridion 23
If it should ever happen to you to be turned to externals in order to please some person, you must know that you have lost your purpose in life. Be satisfied then in everything with being a philosopher; and if you wish to seem also to any person to be a philosopher, appear so to yourself, and you will be able to do this.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Enchiridion 23, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/enchiridion/23
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIf you find yourself changing course just to please someone else, you have lost sight of your purpose. Be content to be the person you want to be, and if you also want to seem that way to others, convince yourself first.
Older wording
- “externals”
- — things outside your own control, such as other people's approval
Themes and situations
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Virtue and character
- Learning and progress
- What is in our control
- Searching for meaning
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