Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 84 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 84
As a skilful horse-trainer does not feed (only) the good colts and allow to starve those who are disobedient to the rein, but he feeds both alike, and chastises the one more and forces him to be equal to the other: so also a careful man and one who is skilled in political power, attempts to treat well those citizens who have a good character, but does not will that those who are of a contrary character should be ruined at once; and he in no manner grudges both of them their food, but he teaches and urges on with more vehemence him who resists reason and law.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 84, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/84
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA good horse trainer feeds obedient and stubborn colts alike and simply trains the stubborn ones harder. A wise leader likewise treats good citizens well but does not write off difficult ones, teaching and pressing the resistant more firmly instead of letting them be ruined.
Older wording
- “rein”
- — the strap used to guide a horse
- “chastises”
- — corrects or disciplines
Themes and situations
- Leadership and power
- Justice and fairness
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Community and our duty to others
- Leading others
- Parenting
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