Philosophy
by Epictetus, compiled by Arrian
What's actually yours?
Epictetus was born a slave and became one of the Roman world's most famous teachers. He wrote nothing down. His student Arrian did, and boiled it down into this handbook, meant to be kept at hand. It opens by splitting the world into what's up to you and what isn't.
Hear a sample · read by Laura
Up to us, Epictetus says, are our opinions, impulses, desires and aversions, whatever is our own doing. Not up to us are our body, property, reputation and position. Treat what belongs to others as if it were yours, and you'll end up thwarted and upset, blaming gods and people.
People are disturbed by their judgements about things, Epictetus says, not by the things themselves. Death isn't terrible, or Socrates would have thought so. So look at your own judgement first. The untrained blame others, beginners blame themselves, and the fully trained blame nobody.
You're an actor in a play, Epictetus says, and the author decides the part. It may be short or long. You may be cast as a poor man, a lame man, a ruler or a private citizen. Your job is to play it well. Choosing it belongs to someone else.
Never say you've lost something, Epictetus advises, only that you've given it back. A farm taken from you, even a child or a wife who dies, was on loan. While you have something, look after it the way a traveller looks after an inn, knowing it isn't his.
When a dish comes round to you, take a polite helping. If it passes you by, don't grab at it. If it hasn't reached you yet, don't lean across the table. Wait. Epictetus says to treat children, marriage, office and money the same way.
Up to you
Your opinions and choices are up to you. Your body, money and reputation are not.
The jug
If you love a jug, remember it's only a jug, so you won't be crushed when it breaks.
Judgements
When you're upset, blame your own view of what happened, not the event itself.
On loan
Never say you've lost something. Say you gave it back, since it was only lent to you.
The banquet
Take what's passed to you politely, as at a dinner, and don't reach for what hasn't come to you.
One thing to try
Take whatever is worrying you today and split it on paper into two columns, up to me and not up to me. For a job interview, your preparation and your answers go in the first. The panel's decision goes in the second. Spend your effort only on the first column.
Knotd has the key ideas from 250+ non-fiction books, each in a few minutes, in plain words. The Enchiridion comes with a Spot the Trap case to make it stick.
Get the whole book on KnotdOpen in the appWhat's actually yours? Epictetus was born a slave and became one of the Roman world's most famous teachers. He wrote nothing down. His student Arrian did, and boiled it down into this handbook, meant to be kept at hand. It opens by splitting the world into what's up to you and what isn't.
The opening division; It's the judgement that hurts; Your part in the play; Given back, not lost; Behave as at a banquet.
Take whatever is worrying you today and split it on paper into two columns, up to me and not up to me. For a job interview, your preparation and your answers go in the first. The panel's decision goes in the second. Spend your effort only on the first column.
Yes. Knotd has the key ideas from The Enchiridion in a few minutes, in plain words, plus a Spot the Trap case to test them. It's one of 250+ non-fiction books in the app.
Man's Search for MeaningViktor E. FranklPut your effort into what's yours to control, your response.