Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Enchiridion 43 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Enchiridion 43
Everything has two handles, the one by which it may be borne, the other by which it may not. If your brother acts unjustly, do not lay hold of the act by that handle wherein he acts unjustly, for this is the handle which cannot be borne: but lay hold of the other, that he is your brother, that he was nurtured with you, and you will lay hold of the thing by that handle by which it can be borne.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Enchiridion 43, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/enchiridion/43
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesEvery situation can be gripped in two ways, one you can bear and one you cannot. If your brother acts unjustly, do not focus on the injustice but on the fact that he is your brother and you grew up together, and the situation becomes bearable.
Older wording
- “nurtured”
- — raised, brought up
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- Family and love
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Anger
- Justice and fairness
- Family conflict
- Being angry with someone
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