Discourses, How We Ought to Use Divination

Epictetus — The Slave

If a statue of God were standing right there, you wouldn't dare do the things you're doing now. But when God himself is actually present inside you, seeing everything and hearing everything, you're not ashamed of your thoughts and actions. You don't understand your own nature. You're just asking for God's anger.

So why do we worry when we send a young man out from school into real life? We worry he'll act badly, eat badly, sleep around improperly. We worry that his shabby clothes will make him feel worthless, or that nice clothes will make him arrogant. But this young man doesn't know his own God. He doesn't know who's with him as he goes out into the world.

Can we stand it when he says, "I wish I had you with me, God"? Don't you already have God with you? Are you looking for some other god when you already have him? What else could God possibly tell you?

Epictetus — The Slave Original

And if an image of God were present, you would not dare to do any of the things which you are doing; but when God himself is present within and sees all and hears all, you are not ashamed of thinking such things and doing such things, ignorant as you are of your own nature and subject to the anger of God. Then why do we fear when we are sending a young man from the school into active life, lest he should do anything improperly, eat improperly, have improper intercourse with women; and lest the rags in which he is wrapped should debase him, lest fine garments should make him proud. This youth (if he acts thus) does not know his own God; he knows not with whom he sets out (into the world). But can we endure when he says, "I wish I had you (God) with me." Have you not God with you? and do you seek for any other when you have him? or will God tell you anything else than this?

Epictetus — The Slave

Won't you look for the nature of good in rational beings? If it's not there, you won't find it anywhere else — not in plants or animals. What about plants and animals? Yes, they're God's work too. But they're not the highest things. They're not parts of the gods. But you are a higher being. You are a piece separated from God. You have part of him in yourself. Why don't you know your noble heritage? Why don't you know where you came from? When you eat, won't you remember who you are and whom you're feeding? When you're with others, when you're exercising, when you're having conversations — don't you know you're nourishing a god? You're exercising a god? You fool, you're carrying a god around with you and you don't even know it. Do you think I mean some god made of silver or gold — something external? You carry him inside yourself. And you don't realize you're polluting him with dirty thoughts and corrupt actions.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

Will you not then seek the nature of good in the rational animal? for if it is not there, you will not choose to say that it exists in any other thing (plant or animal). What then? are not plants and animals also the works of God? They are; but they are not superior things, nor yet parts of the gods. But you are a superior thing; you are a portion separated from the Deity; you have in yourself a certain portion of him. Why then are you ignorant of your own noble descent? Why do you not know whence you came? will you not remember when you are eating who you are who eat and whom you feed? When you are in social intercourse, when you are exercising yourself, when you are engaged in discussion, know you not that you are nourishing a god, that you are exercising a god? Wretch, you are carrying about a god with you, and you know it not. Do you think that I mean some god of silver or of gold, and external? You carry him within yourself, and you perceive not that you are polluting him by impure thoughts and dirty deeds.