Discourses, How a Man Should Proceed from the Principle of God Being the Father of All Men to the Rest

Epictetus — The Slave

Since everyone acts based on what they believe about themselves, the few who think they were made for loyalty, decency, and clear thinking don't have small or petty thoughts about themselves. But most people do the opposite. They say, "What am I? Just a poor, miserable person with this pathetic body." Yes, your body is pathetic. But you have something better than your body. So why ignore what's better? Why focus only on your flesh?

Epictetus — The Slave Original

and some few to that which is divine and happy. Since then it is of necessity that every man uses everything according to the opinion which he has about it, those, the few, who think that they are formed for fidelity and modesty and a sure use of appearances have no mean or ignoble thoughts about themselves; but with the many it is quite the contrary. For they say, What am I? A poor, miserable man, with my wretched bit of flesh. Wretched, indeed; but you possess something better than your bit of flesh. Why then do you neglect that which is better, and why do you attach yourself to this?

Discourses, How a Man Should Proceed from the Principle of God Being the Father of All Men to the Rest — In Plain English