Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

These arguments don't make logical sense: "I have more money than you, so I'm better than you." "I speak better than you, so I'm better than you." The real logical connection is this: "I have more money than you, so my possessions are worth more than yours." "I speak better than you, so my speaking style is better than yours." But you as a person are not the same thing as your property or your speaking style.

The Enchiridion, Section 44 60 of 70
Knowing Yourself What Matters Most
Epictetus — The Slave Original

These reasonings have no logical connection: “I am richer than you, therefore I am your superior.” “I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am your superior.” The true logical connection is rather this: “I am richer than you, therefore my possessions must exceed yours.” “I am more eloquent than you, therefore my style must surpass yours.” But you, after all, consist neither in property nor in style.

The Enchiridion, Section 44 60 of 70
Epictetus — The Slave

Everything has two handles: one that lets you carry it, and one that doesn't. If your brother does something wrong, don't grab onto his wrongdoing — that handle won't work. Instead, grab onto the fact that he's your brother and that you grew up together. That's the handle that lets you deal with it.

The Enchiridion, Section 43 59 of 70
Human Nature Facing Hardship
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Everything has two handles: one by which it may be borne, another by which it cannot. If your brother acts unjustly, do not lay hold on the affair by the handle of his injustice, for by that it cannot be borne, but rather by the opposite—that he is your brother, that he was brought up with you; and thus you will lay hold on it as it is to be borne.

The Enchiridion, Section 43 59 of 70
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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