Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

And how can I still do my duty to Zeus? If I get hurt and have bad luck, he doesn't care about me. What good is he to me if he can't help me? What good is he if he lets me stay in this condition? Now I start to hate him. So why do we build temples? Why do we put up statues to Zeus — and also to evil spirits like Fever? How is Zeus the Savior? How is he the rain-giver and fruit-giver? The truth is, if we think Good comes from these external things, all this confusion follows.

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What Matters Most Freedom & Control
Epictetus — The Slave Original

And how shall I be still able to maintain my duty towards Zeus? For if I sustain damage and am unlucky, he takes no care of me. And what is he to me if he cannot help me? And further, what is he to me if he allows me to be in the condition in which I am? I now begin to hate him. Why then do we build temples, why setup statues to Zeus, as well as to evil demons, such as to Fever; and how is Zeus the Saviour, and how the giver of rain, and the giver of fruits? And in truth if we place the nature of Good in any such things, all this follows.

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Epictetus — The Slave

So let's say good things are these external possessions and relationships. Then what happens? Can a person be happy when they lose these things or don't get them? No, they can't. And can they behave properly toward other people? No, they can't. Here's why: I'm naturally designed to look out for myself. If it's good for me to own land, then it's also good for me to take it from my neighbor. If it's good for me to have clothes, then it's also good for me to steal them from the bathhouse. This is how wars start. This is how civil unrest begins. This is how tyrants rise and conspiracies form.

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What Matters Most Doing The Right Thing
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Let us then transfer the notion of good to these things. Is it possible, then, when a man sustains damage and does not obtain good things, that he can be happy? It is not possible. And can he maintain towards society a proper behavior? He can not. For I am naturally formed to look after my own interest. If it is my interest to have an estate in land, it is my interest also to take it from my neighbor. If it is my interest to have a garment, it is my interest also to steal it from the bath. This is the origin of wars, civil commotions, tyrannies, conspiracies.

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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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