Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

Stop wasting time on petty debates about these things. Leave that to lazy people who sit around for small payments or complain that no one pays them anything. Instead, step forward and use what you've learned. We don't need more clever arguments right now — the Stoic writings are already full of them. What we need is someone who will actually practice these ideas. Someone whose actions prove their words are real. Please, take on this role. Then we won't have to keep using examples from ancient philosophers in our schools. We'll have a living example of our own.

Discourses, On Constancy (or Firmness) 86 of 388
Doing The Right Thing Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Will you not leave the small arguments about these matters to others, to lazy fellows, that they may sit in a corner and receive their sorry pay, or grumble that no one gives them anything; and will you not come forward and make use of what you have learned? For it is not these small arguments that are wanted now; the writings of the Stoics are full of them. What then is the thing which is wanted? A man who shall apply them, one who by his acts shall bear testimony to his words. Assume, I intreat you, this character, that we may no longer use in the schools the examples of the ancients, but may have some example of our own.

Discourses, On Constancy (or Firmness) 86 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

But suppose someone grabs you by the cloak and drags you to the town square. Then people start yelling: "Philosopher, what good are your beliefs now? Look, you're being dragged to prison. You're about to be executed." What kind of philosophy could I have developed that would prevent a stronger man from grabbing my cloak and dragging me away? What system would stop ten men from throwing me in prison? Have I learned nothing then? I have learned to see that everything that happens — if it's not up to me — means nothing to me. I might ask you: haven't you gained something from this? Then why do you look for benefits anywhere else except in what you've actually learned brings benefits?

Discourses, On Constancy (or Firmness) 85 of 388
Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Epictetus — The Slave Original

But a man has seized me by the cloak, and is drawing me to the public place: then others bawl out, Philosopher, what has been the use of your opinions? see, you are dragged to prison, you are going to be beheaded. And what system of philosophy could I have made so that, if a stronger man should have laid hold of my cloak, I should not be dragged off; that if ten men should have laid hold of me and cast me into prison, I should not be cast in? Have I learned nothing else then? I have learned to see that everything which happens, if it be independent of my will, is nothing to me. I may ask, if you have not gained by this. Why then do you seek advantage in anything else than in that in which you have learned that advantage is?

Discourses, On Constancy (or Firmness) 85 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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