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What Would Stoics Do

Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE

Fragments 115 — Epictetus

Translation by George Long (1877)

Epictetus, Fragments 115

The vine bears three bunches of grapes: the first is that of pleasure, the second of drunkenness, the third of violence.
— Epictetus, Fragments 115 · tr. George Long (1877)Read in context →

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Epictetus, Fragments 115, tr. George Long (1877)

https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/115

Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences

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Indulgence escalates: the vine's first fruit is pleasure, the second is drunkenness, and the third is violence. Heavy drinking starts as enjoyment and ends in harm.

Themes and situations

  • Pleasure and pain
  • Self-discipline and habit
  • Desire and craving
  • Breaking a bad habit

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Epictetus, Fragments 115, tr. George Long (1877)