Discourses, In What a Man Ought to Be Exercised Who Has Made Proficiency; and That We Neglect the Chief Things

Epictetus — The Slave

Go read your Archedamus now. Then when a mouse jumps down and makes noise, you'll drop dead from fear. That's the kind of death waiting for you — just like what's-his-name, Crinis. He was proud too because he understood Archedamus. You fool! Why don't you drop these things that have nothing to do with you? These studies are for people who can learn them without getting upset. People who can say: "I don't get angry, sad, or jealous. Nothing blocks me or holds me back. What's left for me to do? I have free time and I'm calm. Let's see how to handle tricky arguments. Let's see how someone can accept an idea without being led into nonsense." That stuff belongs to them. It's right for happy people to light a fire and eat dinner. If they want, they can sing and dance too. But when the ship is sinking, you come to me wanting to raise the sails.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

Go away now and read Archedamus; then if a mouse should leap down and make a noise, you are a dead man. For such a death awaits you as it did—what was the man's name—Crinis; and he too was proud, because he understood Archedamus. Wretch, will you not dismiss these things that do not concern you at all? These things are suitable to those who are able to learn them without perturbation, to those who can say: "I am not subject to anger, to grief, to envy: I am not hindered, I am not restrained. What remains for me? I have leisure, I am tranquil: let us see how we must deal with sophistical arguments; let us see how when a man has accepted an hypothesis he shall not be led away to any thing absurd." To them such things belong. To those who are happy it is appropriate to light a fire, to dine; if they choose, both to sing and to dance. But when the vessel is sinking, you come to me and hoist the sails.