Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

So should we teach these ideas to everyone? No. We should adjust ourselves to people who don't understand. We should say: "This person is recommending what he thinks is best for himself. I don't blame him." Socrates did this too. When he was in prison about to drink the poison, his jailer was crying. Socrates excused him and said, "How kindly he grieves for us." Did Socrates tell the jailer why they had sent the women away? No. He said that to his friends who could understand it. He treated the jailer like a child.

Discourses, On Constancy (or Firmness) 89 of 388
Human Nature Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

What then, ought we to publish these things to all men? No, but we ought to accommodate ourselves to the ignorant and to say: "This man recommends to me that which he thinks good for himself. I excuse him." For Socrates also excused the jailer who had the charge of him in prison and was weeping when Socrates was going to drink the poison, and said, "How generously he laments over us." Does he then say to the jailer that for this reason we have sent away the women? No, but he says it to his friends who were able to hear (understand) it; and he treats the jailer as a child.

Discourses, On Constancy (or Firmness) 89 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

It's shameful for philosophers to study nature the way runaway slaves watch a play — always looking over their shoulders. What is a master anyway? One person can't really master another. But death can master you. So can life, pleasure, and pain. If Caesar came to me without the power to hurt me, I'd show him how strong I am. But when he comes with the power to cause pain and fear, and I'm afraid — what am I doing then? I'm recognizing my master, just like that runaway slave. As long as I get breaks from these fears, I act like that slave in the theater. I take baths, I drink, I sing. But I do it all with terror and worry. If I could free myself from my masters — from the things that make masters scary — what trouble would I have left? What master could still control me?

Discourses, On Constancy (or Firmness) 88 of 388
Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Epictetus — The Slave Original

It is shameful for philosophers thus to contemplate the works of nature. For what is a master? Man is not the master of man; but death is, and life and pleasure and pain; for if he comes without these things, bring Cæsar to me and you will see how firm I am. But when he shall come with these things, thundering and lightning, and when I am afraid of them, what do I do then except to recognize my master like the runaway slave? But so long as I have any respite from these terrors, as a runaway slave stands in the theatre, so do I. I bathe, I drink, I sing; but all this I do with terror and uneasiness. But if I shall release myself from my masters, that is from those things by means of which masters are formidable, what further trouble have I, what master have I still?

Discourses, On Constancy (or Firmness) 88 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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