Discourses, To Those Who Fear Want

Epictetus — The Slave

Aren't you embarrassed to be more cowardly and pathetic than runaway slaves? When slaves escape, how do they leave their masters? What property do they count on? What servants do they rely on? They steal a little food for the first few days. Then they keep moving across land or sea, finding new ways to survive as they go. What runaway slave ever starved to death? But you're afraid you'll run out of necessities. You can't sleep at night worrying about it. You fool, are you so blind that you can't see where lacking necessities leads? Well, where does it lead? To the same place that fever leads, or a falling stone — to death. Haven't you said this to your friends many times? Haven't you read plenty about this and written about it too? How often have you bragged that you're comfortable with death? First learn what things are truly shameful. Then tell us you're a philosopher. But right now, don't claim to be one — even if others call you that.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

Are you not ashamed at being more cowardly and more mean than fugitive slaves? How do they when they run away leave their masters? on what estates do they depend, and what domestics do they rely on? Do they not after stealing a little, which is enough for the first days, then afterwards move on through land or through sea, contriving one method after another for maintaining their lives? And what fugitive slave ever died of hunger? But you are afraid lest necessary things should fail you, and are sleepless by night. Wretch, are you so blind, and don't you see the road to which the want of necessaries leads?—Well, where does it lead?—to the same place to which a fever leads, or a stone that falls on you, to death. Have you not often said this yourself to your companions? have you not read much of this kind, and written much? and how often have you boasted that you were easy as to death? Learn then first what are the things which are shameful, and then tell us that you are a philosopher: but at present do not, even if any other man calls you so, allow it.