Epictetus, Fragments 3

It is a shame that one who sweetens his drink with the gifts of the bee, should embitter God’s gift of Reason with vice. 

IMAGE: Hieronymus Bosch, Beehive and Witches (c. 1500) 

Epictetus, Fragments 2

The soul that companies with Virtue is like an ever-flowing source. It is a pure, clear, and wholesome draught; sweet, rich, and generous of its store; that injures not, neither destroys. 

Epictetus, Fragments 1

A life entangled with Fortune is like a torrent. It is turbulent and muddy; hard to pass and masterful of mood: noisy and of brief continuance. 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 189

What would you be found doing when overtaken by Death? 

If I might choose, I would be found doing some deed of true humanity, of wide import, beneficent and noble. 

But if I may not be found engaged in anything so lofty, let me hope at least for this—what none may hinder, what is surely in my power—that I may be found raising up in myself that which had fallen; learning to deal more wisely with the things of sense; working out my own tranquillity, and thus rendering that which is its due to every relation of life. . . . 

If death surprises me thus employed, it is enough if I can stretch forth my hands to God and say, "The faculties which I received at Your hands for apprehending this Your Administration, I have not neglected. 

"As far as in me lay, I have done You no dishonor. Behold how I have used the senses, the primary conceptions which You gave me. 

"Have I ever laid anything to Your charge? Have I ever murmured at anything that came to pass, or wished it otherwise? Have I in anything transgressed the relations of life? 

"For that You did beget me, I thank You for that You have given: for the time during which I have used the things that were Yours, it suffices me. 

"Take them back and place them wherever You will! They were all Yours, and You gave them to me." 

If a man depart thus minded, is it not enough? What life is fairer and more noble, what end happier than his? 

IMAGE: Frans van Kuyck, Death and the Girl (c. 1900) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 188

If a man has this peace—not the peace proclaimed by Caesar (how indeed should he have it to proclaim?), nay, but the peace proclaimed by God through reason, will not that suffice him when alone, when he beholds and reflects: 

"Now can no evil happen unto me; for me there is no robber, for me no earthquake; all things are full of peace, full of tranquillity; neither highway nor city nor gathering of men, neither neighbor nor comrade can do me hurt. 

"Another supplies my food, whose care it is; another my raiment; another has given me perceptions of sense and primary conceptions. 

"And when He supplies my necessities no more, it is that He is sounding the retreat, that He has opened the door, and is saying to you, Come!—Wither? 

"To nought that you need fear, but to the friendly kindred elements whence you did spring. 

"Whatsoever of fire is in you, unto fire shall return; whatsoever of earth, unto earth; of spirit, unto spirit; of water, unto water. 

"There is no Hades, no fabled rivers of Sighs, of Lamentation, or of Fire: but all things are full of Beings spiritual and divine." 

With thoughts like these, beholding the Sun, Moon, and Stars, enjoying earth and sea, a man is neither helpless nor alone! 

IMAGE: Abraham Janssens, The Four Elements (c. 1615) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 187

And now we are sending you to Rome to spy out the land; but none send a coward as such a spy, that, if he hears but a noise and sees a shadow moving anywhere, loses his wits and comes flying to say, "The enemy are upon us!"

So if you go now, and come and tell us: “Everything at Rome is terrible: Death is terrible, Exile is terrible, Slander is terrible, Want is terrible. Fly, comrades! The enemy are upon us!” we shall reply, get you gone, and prophesy to yourself! We have but erred in sending such a spy as you. 

Diogenes, who was sent as a spy long before you, brought us back another report than this. He says that Death is no evil; for it need not even bring shame with it. 

He says that Fame is but the empty noise of madmen. 

And what report did this spy bring us of Pain, what of Pleasure, what of Want? 

That to be clothed in sackcloth is better than any purple robe; that sleeping on the bare ground is the softest couch; and in proof of each assertion he points to his own courage, constancy, and freedom; to his own healthy and muscular frame. 

“There is no enemy near,” he cries, “all is perfect peace!” 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 186

It is hard to combine and unite these two qualities, the carefulness of one who is affected by circumstances, and the intrepidity of one who heeds them not. 

But it is not impossible: else were happiness also impossible. We should act as we do in seafaring. 

“What can I do?" Choose the master, the crew, the day, the opportunity. 

Then comes a sudden storm. What matters it to me? my part has been fully done. The matter is in the hands of another—the Master of the ship. 

The ship is foundering. What then have I to do? I do the only thing that remains to me—to be drowned without fear, without a cry, without upbraiding God, but knowing that what has been born must likewise perish. 

For I am not Eternity, but a human being—a part of the whole, as an hour is part of the day. I must come like the hour, and like the hour must pass! 

IMAGE: N.C. Wyeth, The Roaring Skipper (1914) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 185

We shall then be like Socrates, when we can indite hymns of praise to the Gods in prison! 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 184

On all occasions these thoughts should be at hand: 

Lead me, O God, and Thou, O Destiny
Be what it may the goal appointed me,
Bravely I’ll follow; nay, and if I would not,
I’d prove a coward, yet must follow still! (Cleanthes)

Again:

Who to Necessity doth bow aright,
Is learn’d in wisdom and the things of God. (Euripides)

Once more:

Crito, if this be God’s will, so let it be.

As for me, Anytus and Meletus can indeed put me to death, but injure me, never! (Socrates) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 183

Favorinus tells us how Epictetus would also say that there were two faults far graver and fouler than any others—inability to bear, and inability to forbear, when we neither patiently bear the blows that must be borne, nor abstain from the things and the pleasures we ought to abstain from. 

“So,” he went on, “if a man will only have these two words at heart, and heed them carefully by ruling and watching over himself, he will for the most part fall into no sin, and his life will be tranquil and serene.” 

He meant the words [Greek: Anechou kai apechou]—“Bear and Forbear.” 

IMAGE: Giorgio Vasari, Patience (c. 1550) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 182

Asked, "Who is the rich man?"

Epictetus replied, "He who is content." 

"Happy Hoboes" (1933)

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 181

When Xanthippe was chiding Socrates for making scanty preparation for entertaining his friends, he answered: 

“If they are friends of ours they will not care for that; if they are not, we shall care nothing for them!” 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 180

It is best to share with your attendants what is going forward, both in the labor of preparation and in the enjoyment of the feast itself. 

If such a thing be difficult at the time, recollect that you who are not weary are being served by those that are; you who are eating and drinking by those who do neither; you who are talking by those who are silent; you who are at ease by those who are under constraint. 

Thus no sudden wrath will betray you into unreasonable conduct, nor will you behave harshly by irritating another. 

IMAGE: Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, The Banquet of Cleopatra (1744) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 179

At meals, see to it that those who serve be not more in number than those who are served. 

It is absurd for a crowd of persons to be dancing attendance on half a dozen chairs. 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 178

At feasts, remember that you are entertaining two guests, body and soul. 

What you give to the body, you presently lose; what you give to the soul, you keep forever. 

IMAGE: Gerard David, The Marriage at Cana (c. 1500) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 177

When a man prides himself on being able to understand and interpret the writings of Chrysippus, say to yourself: 

If Chrysippus had not written obscurely, this fellow would have had nothing to be proud of. But what is it that I desire? To understand Nature, and to follow her! 

Accordingly, I ask who is the Interpreter. On hearing that it is Chrysippus, I go to him. But it seems I do not understand what he wrote. So I seek one to interpret that. So far there is nothing to pride myself on. 

But when I have found my interpreter, what remains is to put in practice his instructions. This itself is the only thing to be proud of.  

But if I admire the interpretation and that alone, what else have I turned out but a mere commentator instead of a lover of wisdom?—except indeed that I happen to be interpreting Chrysippus instead of Homer. 

So when any one says to me, "Prithee, read me Chrysippus," I am more inclined to blush, when I cannot show my deeds to be in harmony and accordance with his sayings. 

IMAGE: Rembrandt, Two Scholars Disputing (1628) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 176

When you have brought yourself to supply the needs of the body at small cost, do not pique yourself on that, nor if you drink only water, keep saying on each occasion, "I drink water!" 

And if you ever want to practice endurance and toil, do so unto yourself and not unto others—do not embrace statues! 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 175

Never call yourself a Philosopher, nor talk much among the unlearned about Principles, but do that which follows from them. 

Thus at a banquet, do not discuss how people ought to eat; but eat as you ought. 

Remember that Socrates thus entirely avoided ostentation. Men would come to him desiring to be recommended to philosophers, and he would conduct them thither himself—so well did he bear being overlooked. 

Accordingly, if any talk concerning principles should arise among the unlearned, be you for the most part silent. For you run great risk of spewing up what you have ill digested. 

And when a man tells you that you know nothing, and you are not nettled at it, then you may be sure that you have begun the work. 

IMAGE: Pier Francesco Mola, The Teachings of Socrates (c. 1660) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 174

Everything has two handles, one by which it may be borne, the other by which it may not. 

If your brother sins against you lay not hold of it by the handle of injustice, for by that it may not be borne: but rather by this, that he is your brother, the comrade of your youth; and thus you will lay hold on it so that it may be borne. 

IMAGE: Thomas Satterwhite Noble, Forgiven (c. 1872) 

Epictetus, Golden Sayings 173

It stamps a man of mean capacity to spend much time on the things of the body, as to be long over bodily exercises, long over eating, long over drinking, long over other bodily functions. 

Rather should these things take the second place, while all your care is directed to the understanding.