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Thou that I now depart from the great Assembly of men？ I go： I
give Thee all thanks； that Thou hast deemed me worthy to take
part with Thee in this Assembly： to behold Thy works； to
comprehend this Thine administration。〃
Such I would were the subject of my thoughts； my pen； my
study； when death overtakes me。
LXXXV
Seemeth it nothing to you； never to accuse； never to blame
either God or Man？ to wear ever the same countenance in going
forth as in coming in？ This was the secret of Socrates： yet he
never said that he knew or taught anything。 。 。 。 Who amongst you
makes this his aim？ Were it indeed so； you would gladly endure
sickness； hunger； aye； death itself。
LXXXVI
How are we constituted by Nature？ To be free； to be noble；
to be modest （for what other living thing is capable of blushing；
or of feeling the impression of shame？） and to subordinate
pleasure to the ends for which Nature designed us； as a handmaid
and a minister； in order to call forth our activity； in order to
keep us constant to the path prescribed by Nature。
LXXXVII
The husbandman deals with land； physicians and trainers with
the body； the wise man with his own Mind。
LXXXVIII
Which of us does not admire what Lycurgus the Spartan did？ A
young citizen had put out his eye； and been handed over to him by
the people to be punished at his own discretion。 Lycurgus
abstained from all vengeance； but on the contrary instructed and
made a good man of him。 Producing him in public in the theatre；
he said to the astonished Spartans：〃I received this young man
at your hands full of violence and wanton insolence； I restore
him to you in his right mind and fit to serve his country。〃
LXXXIX
A money…changer may not reject Caesar's coin； nor may the
seller of herbs； but must when once the coin is shown； deliver
what is sold for it； whether he will or no。 So is it also with
the Soul。 Once the Good appears； it attracts towards itself； evil
repels。 But a clear and certain impression of the Good the Soul
will never reject； any more than men do Caesar's coin。 On this
hangs every impulse alike of Man and God。
XC
Asked what Common Sense was； Epictetus replied：
As that may be called a Common Ear which distinguishes only
sounds； while that which distinguishes musical notes is not
common but produced by training； so there are certain things
which men not entirely perverted see by the natural principles
common to all。 Such a constitution of the Mind is called Common
Sense。
XCI
Canst thou judge men？ 。 。 。 then make us imitators of
thyself； as Socrates did。 Do this； do not do that； else will I
cast thee into prision； this is not governing men like reasonable
creatures。 Say rather； As God hath ordained； so do； else thou
wilt suffer chastisement and loss。 Askest thou what loss？ None
other than this： To have left undone what thou shouldst have
done： to have lost the faithfulness； the reverence； the modesty
that is in thee！ Greater loss than this seek not to find！
XCII
〃His son is dead。〃
What has happened？
〃His son is dead。〃
Nothing more？
〃Nothing。〃
〃His ship is lost。〃
〃He has been haled to prision。〃
What has happened？
〃He has been haled to prision。〃
But that any of these things are misfortunes to him； is an
addition which every one makes of his own。 But （you say） God is
unjust is this。Why？ For having given thee endurance and
greatness of soul？ For having made such things to be no evils？
For placing happiness within thy reach； even when enduring them？
For open unto thee a door； when things make not for thy good？
Depart； my friend and find fault no more！
XCIII
You are sailing to Rome （you tell me） to obtain the post of
Governor of Cnossus。 You are not content to stay at home with
the honours you had before； you want something on a larger scale；
and more conspicuous。 But when did you ever undertake a voyage
for the purpose of reviewing your own principles and getting rid
of any of them that proved unsound？ Whom did you ever visit for
that object？ What time did you ever set yourself for that？ What
age？ Run over the times of your lifeby yourself； if you are
ashamed before me。 Did you examine your principles when a boy？
Did you not do everything just as you do now？ Or when you were a
stripling； attending the school of oratory and practising the art
yourself； what did you ever imagine you lacked？ And when you were
a young man； entered upon public life； and were pleading causes
and making a name； who any longer seemed equal to you？ And at
what moment would you have endured another examining your
principles and proving that they were unsound？ What then am I to
say to you？ 〃Help me in this matter！〃 you cry。 Ah； for that I
have no rule！ And neither did you； if that was your object； come
to me as a philosopher； but as you might have gone to a herb…seller
or a cobbler。〃What do philosophers have rules for；
then？〃Why； that whatever may betide； our ruling faculty may be
as Nature would have it； and so remain。 Think you this a small
matter？ Not so！ but the greatest thing there is。 Well； does it
need but a short time？ Can it be grasped by a passer…by？grasp
it； if you can！
Then you will say； 〃Yes； I met Epictetus！〃
Aye； just as you might a statue or a monument。 You saw me！
and that is all。 But a man who meets a man is one who learns the
other's mind； and lets him see is in turn。 Learn my mindshow me
yours； and then go and say that you met me。 Let us try each
other； if I have any wrong principle； rid me of it； if you have；
out with it。 That is what meeting a philosopher means。 Not so；
you think； this is only a flying visit； while we are hiring the
ship； we can see Epictetus too！ Let us see what he has to say。
Then on leaving you cry； 〃Out on Epictetus for a worthless
fellow； provincial and barbarous of speech！〃 What else indeed did
you come to judge of？
XCIV
Whether you will or no； you are poorer than I！
〃What then do I lack？〃
What you have not： Constancy of mind； such as Nature would
have it be： Tranquillity。 Patron or no patron； what care I？ but
you do care。 I am richer than you： I am not racked with anxiety
as to what Caesar may think of me； I flatter none on that
account。 This is what I have； instead of vessels of gold and
silver！ your vessels may be of gold； but your reason； your
principles； your accepted views； your inclinations； your desires
are of earthenware。
XCV
To you； all you have seems small： to me； all I have seems
great。 Your desire is insatiable； mine is satisfied。 See children
thrusting their hands into a narrow…necked jar； and striving to
pull out the nuts and figs it contains： if they fill the hand；
they cannot pull it out again； and then they fall to tears。
〃Let go a few of them； and then you can draw out the rest！〃
You； too； let your desire go！ covet not many things； and you will
obtain。
XCVI
Pittacus wronged by one whom he had it in his power to
punish； let him go free； saying； Forgiveness is better than
revenge。 The one shows native gentleness； the other savagery。
XCVII
〃My brother ought not to have treated me thus。〃
True： but he must see to that。 However he may treat me； I
must deal rightly by him。 This is what lies with me； what none
can hinder。
XCVIII
Nevertheless a man should also be prepared to be sufficient
unto himselfto dwell with himself alone； even as God dwells
with Himself alone； shares His repose with none； and considers
the nature of His own administration； intent upon such thoughts
as are meet unto Himself。 So should we also be able to converse
with ourselves； to need none else beside； to sigh for no
distraction； to bend our thoughts upon the Divine Administration；
and how we stand related to all else； to observe how human
accidents touched us of old； and how they touch us now； what
things they are that still have power to hurt us； and how they
may be cured or removed； to perfect what needs perfecting as
Reason would direct。
XCIX
If a man has frequent intercourse with others； either in the
way of conversation； entertainment； or simple familiarity； he
must either become like them； or change them to his own fashion。
A live coal placed next a dead one will either kindle that or be
quenched by it。 Such being the risk； it is well to be cautious in
admitting intimacies of this sort； remembering that one cannot
rub shoulders with a soot…stained man without sharing the soot
oneself。 What will you do； supposing the talk turns on
gladiators； or horses； or prize…fighters； or （what is worse） on
persons； condemning this and that； approving the other？ Or
suppose a man sneers and jee