Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 78 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 78
As the fire-lights in harbours by a few pieces of dry-wood raise a great flame and give sufficient help to ships which are wandering on the sea; so also an illustrious man in a state which is tempest-tossed, while he is himself satisfied with a few things does great services to his citizens.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 78, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/78
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA harbour beacon fed with a little dry wood can guide ships through a storm. In the same way, a distinguished person who is content with little can do great good for fellow citizens in troubled times.
Older wording
- “fire-lights”
- — beacons or lighthouses
- “tempest-tossed”
- — battered by storms, in turmoil
Themes and situations
- Leadership and power
- Community and our duty to others
- Simplicity and frugality
- Virtue and character
- Leading others
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