Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 19 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 19
Examine yourself whether you wish to be rich or to be happy. If you wish to be rich, you should know that it is neither a good thing nor at all in your power: but if you wish to be happy, you should know that it is both a good thing and in your power, for the one is a temporary loan of fortune, and happiness comes from the will.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 19, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/19
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesDecide whether you want to be rich or to be happy. Wealth is neither truly good nor in your control, being a temporary loan from fortune, whereas happiness comes from your own will and is within your power.
Older wording
- “fortune”
- — luck, circumstances
Themes and situations
- Wealth and poverty
- What is in our control
- Desire and craving
- Peace of mind
- Virtue and character
- Money, status and wanting more
- Losing money
- Searching for meaning
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