Discourses, On Freedom from Fear

Epictetus — The Slave

It's time for my body to break down into what it was made of. What's scary about that? What part of the universe is actually going to disappear? What strange new thing is about to happen? Is this why a tyrant seems frightening? Is this why his guards carry big, sharp swords? Go tell that to other people. I've thought all this through. No one has power over me. I am free. I know what his orders really mean. No one can drag me around like a slave anymore. I have the right person to defend my freedom. I have the right judges. You control my body? So what? You control my property? So what? You control whether I'm exiled or chained? Fine. I'll leave all these things behind — even this worthless body — whenever you want. Go ahead. Test your power. You'll see how little it really reaches.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

It is now time for the matter (of the body) to be resolved into the things out of which it was composed. And what is the formidable thing here? what is going to perish of the things which are in the universe? what new thing or wondrous is going to happen? Is it for this reason that a tyrant is formidable? Is it for this reason that the guards appear to have swords which are large and sharp? Say this to others; but I have considered about all these things; no man has power over me. I have been made free; I know his commands, no man can now lead me as a slave. I have a proper person to assert my freedom; I have proper judges. (I say) are you not the master of my body? What then is that to me? Are you not the master of my property? What then is that to me? Are you not the master of my exile or of my chains? Well, from all these things and all the poor body itself I depart at your bidding, when you please. Make trial of your power, and you will know how far it reaches.

Epictetus — The Slave

When you clearly understand what's up to you and what's not, what stops you from living with a light heart? What stops you from handling whatever comes your way and accepting what's already happened? You want me to handle poverty? Bring it on. You'll see what real poverty looks like when someone knows how to be poor with dignity. You want me to have power? Give me power — and all the headaches that come with it. What about exile? Wherever I go, I'll be fine. I was fine here not because of the place, but because of how I think. I'll take that thinking with me. No one can steal my thoughts from me. My opinions are mine alone. They can't be taken away. As long as I have them, I'm satisfied — no matter where I am or what I'm doing. But now it's time to die. Why do you say 'to die'? Don't make it dramatic. Just call it what it is.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

What hinders a man, who has clearly separated (comprehended) these things, from living with a light heart and bearing easily the reins, quietly expecting everything which can happen, and enduring that which has already happened? Would you have me to bear poverty? Come and you will know what poverty is when it has found one who can act well the part of a poor man. Would you have me to possess power? Let me have power, and also the trouble of it. Well, banishment? Wherever I shall go, there it will be well with me; for here also where I am, it was not because of the place that it was well with me, but because of my opinions which I shall carry off with me, for neither can any man deprive me of them; but my opinions alone are mine and they cannot be taken from me, and I am satisfied while I have them, wherever I may be and whatever I am doing. But now it is time to die. Why do you say to die? Make no tragedy show of the thing, but speak of it as it is.