Discourses, Certain Miscellaneous Matters

Epictetus — The Slave

Think through all of this carefully. Then, if you still want to pursue philosophy, go ahead — if you're willing to trade everything else for peace of mind, freedom, and calm. But if you haven't thought it through, stay away from philosophy. Don't be like children who play pretend — one day a philosopher, the next day a tax collector, then a public speaker, then a government official. These roles don't mix. You must be one person, either good or bad. You must either work on your own character or chase external things. You must focus either on what's within your control or on external matters. In other words, you're either a philosopher or you're just another person in the crowd.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

When you have considered all these things completely, then, if you think proper, approach to philosophy, if you would gain in exchange for these things freedom from perturbations, liberty, tranquillity. If you have not considered these things, do not approach philosophy: do not act like children, at one time a philosopher, then a tax collector, then a rhetorician, then a procurator (officer) of Cæsar. These things are not consistent. You must be one man either good or bad; you must either labor at your own ruling faculty or at external things; you must either labor at things within or at external things; that is, you must either occupy the place of a philosopher or that of one of the vulgar.

Epictetus — The Slave

Listen, first figure out what you're actually trying to do. Then be honest about your own nature and what you can handle. If you're a wrestler, look at your shoulders, your thighs, your back — different people are built for different things. Do you think you can keep doing what you do every day and still be a philosopher? Do you think you can eat the same way, drink the same way, get angry and moody the same way? You'll have to stay alert, work hard, and conquer certain desires. You'll have to leave your family behind, be looked down on by your servants, and be laughed at by people you meet. In everything, you'll be at a disadvantage — no political office, no honors, no influence in court.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

Man, consider first what the matter is (which you propose to do), then your own nature also, what it is able to bear. If you are a wrestler, look at your shoulders, your thighs, your loins: for different men are naturally formed for different things. Do you think that, if you do (what you are doing daily), you can be a philosopher? Do you think that you can eat as you do now, drink as you do now, and in the same way be angry and out of humor? You must watch, labor, conquer certain desires, you must depart from your kinsmen, be despised by your slaves, laughed at by those who meet you, in everything you must be in an inferior condition, as to magisterial office, in honors, in courts of justice.