Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 16 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 16
They are amusing fellows, said he (Epictetus), who are proud of the things which are not in our power. A man says, I am better than you, for I possess much land, and you are wasting with hunger. Another says, I am of consular rank. Another says, I am a Procurator (ἐπίτροπος). Another, I have curly hair. But a horse does not say to a horse, I am superior to you, for I possess much fodder, and much barley, and my bits are of gold and my harness is embroidered: but he says, I am swifter than you. And every animal is better or worse from his own merit (virtue) or his own badness. Is there then no virtue in man only? and must we look to the hair, and our clothes and to our ancestors?
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 16, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/16
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesPeople who boast of land, rank, official posts or curly hair are proud of things that are not up to them. A horse never brags about its fodder or gold harness, only about being faster, so judge yourself by your own virtue and not by clothes, hair or ancestors.
Older wording
- “consular rank”
- — having held the top Roman office of consul
- “Procurator”
- — a Roman official who managed imperial property
Themes and situations
- Pride and humility
- Wealth and poverty
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Virtue and character
- Envy and comparison
- Handling success
- Envy and comparison
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