Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

So the good things are virtues and whatever shares in virtue. The bad things are the opposite. The neutral things are wealth, health, and reputation. But then, if we're talking and there's a loud noise, or someone laughs at us, we get upset. Philosopher, where are those things you were just discussing? Where did you get them from when you spoke? From your lips only. Why are you ruining the help that others provided? Why are you treating the most important matters like a game of dice?

Discourses, That When We Cannot Fulfil That Which the Character of a Man Promises, We Assume the Character of a Philosopher 126 of 388
Knowing Yourself Doing The Right Thing
Epictetus — The Slave Original

the good then are virtues, and the things which participate in virtues; and the bad are the contrary; and the indifferent are wealth, health, reputation. Then, if in the midst of our talk there should happen some greater noise than usual, or some of those who are present should laugh at us, we are disturbed. Philosopher, where are the things which you were talking about? Whence did you produce and utter them? From the lips, and thence only. Why then do you corrupt the aids provided by others? Why do you treat the weightiest matters as if you were playing a game of dice?

Discourses, That When We Cannot Fulfil That Which the Character of a Man Promises, We Assume the Character of a Philosopher 126 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

This is why philosophers tell us not to stop at just learning. We need to study what we learn. Then we need to practice it. We've spent years doing the opposite of what we should do. We've been living by beliefs that go against true beliefs. If we don't start practicing right beliefs, we'll be nothing more than people who explain other people's ideas. Right now, any of us can give a speech about good and evil following all the rules. We can say: 'Some things are good, some things are bad, and some things don't matter.'

Discourses, That When We Cannot Fulfil That Which the Character of a Man Promises, We Assume the Character of a Philosopher 125 of 388
Knowing Yourself Doing The Right Thing
Epictetus — The Slave Original

For this reason philosophers admonish us not to be satisfied with learning only, but also to add study, and then practice. For we have long been accustomed to do contrary things, and we put in practice opinions which are contrary to true opinions. If then we shall not also put in practice right opinions, we shall be nothing more than the expositors of the opinions of others. For now who among us is not able to discourse according to the rules of art about good and evil things (in this fashion)? That of things some are good, and some are bad, and some are indifferent:

Discourses, That When We Cannot Fulfil That Which the Character of a Man Promises, We Assume the Character of a Philosopher 125 of 388
‹ Previous Next ›

Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

About · Support