Philosophers say only the educated can be free — that is, God allows only them to be free. So when a master brings his slave before the magistrate and grants him legal freedom, has he accomplished something? Yes, something. What? He has legally freed his slave. Has he done anything more? Yes — he also has to pay the freedom tax. But is the person who went through this ceremony actually free? No more than he is free from anxiety and worry. You who can legally free others — don't you have masters too? Isn't money your master? Or some girl or boy? Or some dictator or friend of a dictator? Why do you worry when you face these kinds of tests? This is why I often say: study these principles and keep them ready. Use them to figure out what deserves caution. Be brave about things outside your control. Be careful about things within your control.
For philosophers say we allow none to be free except the educated; that is, God does not allow it. When then a man has turned round before the prætor his own slave, has he done nothing? He has done something. What? He has turned round his own slave before the prætor. Has he done nothing more? Yes: he is also bound to pay for him the tax called the twentieth. Well then, is not the man who has gone through this ceremony become free? No more than he is become free from perturbations. Have you who are able to turn round (free) others no master? is not money your master, or a girl or a boy, or some tyrant or some friend of the tyrant? Why do you trouble then when you are going off to any trial (danger) of this kind? It is for this reason that I often say, study and hold in readiness these principles by which you may determine what those things are with reference to which you ought to be cautious, courageous in that which does not depend on your will, cautious in that which does depend on it.