The Golden Sayings of Epictetus
The Golden Sayings of Epictetus
Book Excerpt
or ignoble of themselves: but the multitude the contrary. Why, what am I?--A wretched human creature; with this miserable flesh of mine. Miserable indeed! but you have something better than that paltry flesh of yours. Why then cling to the one, and neglect the other?
X
Thou art but a poor soul laden with a lifeless body.
XI
The other day I had an iron lamp placed beside my household gods. I heard a noise at the door and on hastening down found my lamp carried off. I reflected that the culprit was in no very strange case. "To-morrow, my friend," I said, "you will find an earthenware lamp; for a man can only lose what he has."
XII
The reason why I lost my lamp was that the thief was superior to me in vigilance. He paid however this price for the lamp, that in exchange for it he consented to become a thief: in exchange for it, to become faithless.
XIII
But God hath introduced Man to be a spectator of Himself and of His works; and not a spect
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This is a wonderful little book. I think it is one of the best of Stoicism I have read.
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Epictetus really gets under your skin.These golden ideas comes from his lessons on Stoicism that was recorded by one of his students. The philosophy is deceptively simple, but effective. These simple tactics are helpful in facing the daily
stresses of life.
stresses of life.
06/24/2011