Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 20 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 20
As when you see a viper or an asp or a scorpion in an ivory or golden box, you do not on account of the costliness of the material love it or think it happy, but because the nature of it is pernicious, you turn away from it and loathe it; so when you shall see vice dwelling in wealth and in the swollen fullness of fortune, be not struck by the splendour of the material, but despise the false character of the morals.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 20, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/20
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA viper in a golden box is still a viper, so do not be dazzled by wealth surrounding someone vicious. Despise the bad character beneath the splendour instead of admiring or envying the setting.
Older wording
- “pernicious”
- — harmful, destructive
- “asp”
- — a venomous snake
Themes and situations
- Wealth and poverty
- Virtue and character
- Envy and comparison
- Judgements and impressions
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Envy and comparison
- Money, status and wanting more
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