Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Enchiridion 4 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Enchiridion 4
When you are going to take in hand any act, remind yourself what kind of an act it is. If you are going to bathe, place before yourself what happens in the bath: some splashing the water, others pushing against one another, others abusing one another, and some stealing: and thus with more safety you will undertake the matter, if you say to yourself, I now intend to bathe, and to maintain my will in a manner conformable to nature. And so you will do in every act: for thus if any hindrance to bathing shall happen, let this thought be ready: it was not this only that I intended, but I intended also to maintain my will in a way conformable to nature; but I shall not maintain it so, if I am vexed at what happens.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Enchiridion 4, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/enchiridion/4
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesBefore starting any activity, picture what it is usually like, such as the splashing, shoving and rudeness at a public bath, and remind yourself that your real aim is to keep your own character in order. Then if things go wrong you can accept it calmly, because staying calm was part of the plan all along.
Older wording
- “conformable to nature”
- — in line with your reasoning nature
Themes and situations
- Preparing for difficulty
- Judgements and impressions
- What is in our control
- Peace of mind
- Anger
- Everyday irritations
- Being angry with someone
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