Discourses, On Anxiety (solicitude)

Epictetus — The Slave

A Roman man came in with his son to listen to a lecture. Epictetus said, "This is how teaching works," and stopped talking. When the Roman asked him to continue, Epictetus said: "Every skill causes struggle for someone who doesn't know it yet. But the things that come from these skills immediately show their purpose. And most of them have something attractive and pleasing about them. Watching someone learn to make shoes isn't pleasant. But the finished shoe is useful and nice to look at. Watching a blacksmith learn his trade is very unpleasant if you're just standing there as an outsider. But the finished work shows the value of the skill. You'll see this even more clearly with music. If you watch someone learning music, the practice will seem awful. But the results of music are pleasing and delightful to people who know nothing about music."

Epictetus — The Slave Original

When a certain Roman entered with his son and listened to one reading, Epictetus said, This is the method of instruction; and he stopped. When the Roman asked him to go on, Epictetus said, Every art when it is taught causes labor to him who is unacquainted with it and is unskilled in it, and indeed the things which proceed from the arts immediately show their use in the purpose for which they were made; and most of them contain something attractive and pleasing. For indeed to be present and to observe how a shoemaker learns is not a pleasant thing; but the shoe is useful and also not disagreeable to look at. And the discipline of a smith when he is learning is very disagreeable to one who chances to be present and is a stranger to the art: but the work shows the use of the art. But you will see this much more in music; for if you are present while a person is learning, the discipline will appear most disagreeable; and yet the results of music are pleasing and delightful to those who know nothing of music.

Epictetus — The Slave

When you're on horseback riding across a field, do you worry about facing someone on foot? Do you get anxious about something you've practiced while they haven't? "Yes, but this person I'm going to speak to has the power to kill me." Then tell the truth, you miserable person. Stop bragging. Don't claim to be a philosopher. Don't refuse to admit who your real teachers are. As long as you offer up this weak spot in your body, you'll follow anyone stronger than you. Socrates practiced speaking — the same Socrates who talked that way to tyrants, to judges, who talked that way in his prison cell. Diogenes practiced speaking too — the same Diogenes who spoke that way to Alexander, to pirates, to the man who bought him as a slave. These men felt confident because they had practiced what mattered. But you? Go back to your own little affairs and never leave them. Go sit in a corner and weave together syllogisms and present them to someone else. You don't have what it takes to rule a state.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

When then you are mounted on a horse and go into a plain, are you anxious at being matched against a man who is on foot, and anxious in a matter in which you are practised, and he is not? Yes, but that person (to whom I am going to speak) has power to kill me. Speak the truth, then, unhappy man, and do not brag, nor claim to be a philosopher, nor refuse to acknowledge your masters, but so long as you present this handle in your body, follow every man who is stronger than yourself. Socrates used to practice speaking, he who talked as he did to the tyrants, to the dicasts (judges), he who talked in his prison. Diogenes had practised speaking, he who spoke as he did to Alexander, to the pirates, to the person who bought him. These men were confident in the things which they practised. But do you walk off to your own affairs and never leave them: go and sit in a corner, and weave syllogisms, and propose them to another. There is not in you the man who can rule a state.