The Enchiridion, by Epictetus
Epictetus’ Handbook is written to help men become what he calls True Philosophers. In section 52, Epictetus states that the first and most necessary aspect of philosophy is to deal with philosophical propositions. He states that first we must deal with them, second, we must demonstrate by questioning the proposition: must we do…? The third thing we must do with philosophical propositions is to confirm and articulate them. What is this truth? Why is it true?
Epictetus claims that we do the whole thing backwards, stating that we put all our effort into the third, rather than the first as the correct order (according to him) should be. In other words, we articulate and then question the proposition and never actually get around to doing it. Therefore, I am laying out in my own words what Epictetus is asking of us to accept and live by, so that we, as students of reason, can make a clearer decision whether or not to make a commitment to them:
1. Disassociate yourself from events not under your control, which is anything that happens to you.
2. For the time being, expect nothing and seek nothing. Leave desire for things behind.
3. Look at everything you have rationally, and not with ownership, so you feel no loss should you lose it.
4. See the negative possibilities in all you do, so if they occur, you will not be upset.
5. It is not the events that occur that are most upsetting, but your attitude about them. Even death can be expected to come to all, therefore it cannot be something dreadful.
6. You didn’t create yourself. Do not be enamored or proud of your own talents.
7. Whatever you have in life is temporary.
8. Accept what happens in life just as it occurs.
9. Disabilities are only physical and therefore are not happening to the real, eternal you.
10. Find the self-control to respond with temperance to everything you encounter.
11. Never think anything you have is permanent. It was given. It may be taken.
12. Keep yourself in a state so that nothing upsets you. Even things you consider necessary must be second to the state of not being upset.
13. Don’t care what people think as you gain ground in becoming a true philosopher.
14. Don’t let yourself care about things that you can’t do anything about.
15. Act moderately in life. Take what comes to you without grasping or seeking more.
16. Sympathize with people who are grieving, but inside be stoic about what is happening.
17. Your part in life was chosen by God, so play your part well.
18. Don’t let signs or superstitions affect you. Imagine they all portend the positive.
19. Accepting what comes to you and then acting well on it leads to sure success.
20. Count to ten and control your mind’s reaction to events so you don’t overreact.
21. The reality is that hard things happen on earth constantly. Remember this always, so that you don’t start expecting only good things and craving them.
22. Keep seeking to become a true philosopher even though people won’t understand and will ridicule and belittle you. Later, they will appreciate and admire you.
23. Put yourself in the right mindset, and act outwardly like a true philosopher, and through perseverance you will achieve it in reality.
24. Be sincere and trustworthy like a true philosopher. This is of more value than money. Your value to others is far greater with trustworthiness than anything of monetary value that you could provide for them.
25. Be glad for what others receive, and pay for what you get.
26. Be as impartial about what happens to you as you are about what happens to others.
27. The things that happen on earth were meant to be.
28. Keep control of your own emotions and reactions so events and people do not rule you.
29. Think ahead about what you want to do. Consider wisely whether you are truly able to achieve your goal and do it well before embarking on it. If it is beyond your realm, set it aside.
30. Be appropriate in your relationship with everyone according to who they are.
31. Give God (or your gods) his due and don’t blame him for bad things that happen to you. Regard him with pious respect.
32. As far as fortune-telling, your reason and logic will show the truth better than superstition.
33. Maintain your moral standards at all times. Avoid empty or foolish talk. Hang around people who have high standards and avoid those who don’t, as much as you can. Ignore gossip or backbiting about you. Think of someone you really admire and try to act like them in all circumstances, such as when meeting others. Don’t talk about yourself too much. Don’t be vulgar, especially just for a laugh, and give the silent treatment to those who are vulgar, so you set an example to them.
34. Watch out not to lose your philosophical standing by giving way to too much enjoyment of pleasure. Be moderate always to stay in control.
35. Always do what you think is right, no matter the opinion of others who don’t agree.
36. The fellowship with others is worth more than the food you get when eating out together. Therefore, be sure to focus on the first and not the second.
37. Don’t agree to do something that you are unable to do. It dishonors you to not be able to complete what you commit to do.
38. Watch out equally well for your physical wellbeing and for your philosophical outlook.
39. Your own body can be the measurement for how many goods you should possess. It can only sustain so many or it turns into excess.
40. Don’t honor young girls and women for being sexy or sleeping with men. Instead, honor them for modesty and self-respect.
41. Let the pursuit of being a true philosopher occupy you fully with little time for physical pursuits.
42. Be unassuming when criticized. The person may be sincere in their thoughts about you.
43. Always look for the good or positive in a situation and come from that angle about it.
44. What you have is not who you are. Don’t boast or feel superior from what you have or can do.
45. Don’t judge by outward appearances. People might have hidden reasons for what they do.
46. Set an example of the superiority of being a true philosophers to others without philosophizing about your beliefs. Simply show them through what you do that the philosophical way is excellent.
47. Keep to yourself how you are living or training to adapt yourself to a modest life.
48. Guard against your own natural tendencies towards impulses and desires. Someone who is not seeking to be a true philosopher never blames himself for anything, while a true philosopher takes the blame and responsibility always, and therefore strives for benefit and not loss.
49. If you start to learn from earlier philosophers, don’t think you are suddenly wise. You have learned a little but are far from being an expert. And do you live by what you know?
50. Take very seriously whatever tasks are before you and do well with them, no matter what others say about it because there is nothing you can reasonably do about that.
51. You can see that the beliefs of a true philosopher are right and true. Why are you waiting to put them into effect? Socrates is greatly to be admired. Become like him, though you are not him.
52. Instead of debating the merits of the tenets of philosophy, adopt them ad act on them, and then discuss them afterwards.
53. Be ready for God, or destiny, to help you. Although unworthy, act on his leading. Whoever does this will have true wisdom and be admired by us. No one has any real power over you, though they can kill you. As Job said, “Though he (Yahweh) slay me, yet will I trust in him.” The harm may come from others, but the noble comportment and honest trust comes from you.
Epictetus claims that we do the whole thing backwards, stating that we put all our effort into the third, rather than the first as the correct order (according to him) should be. In other words, we articulate and then question the proposition and never actually get around to doing it. Therefore, I am laying out in my own words what Epictetus is asking of us to accept and live by, so that we, as students of reason, can make a clearer decision whether or not to make a commitment to them:
1. Disassociate yourself from events not under your control, which is anything that happens to you.
2. For the time being, expect nothing and seek nothing. Leave desire for things behind.
3. Look at everything you have rationally, and not with ownership, so you feel no loss should you lose it.
4. See the negative possibilities in all you do, so if they occur, you will not be upset.
5. It is not the events that occur that are most upsetting, but your attitude about them. Even death can be expected to come to all, therefore it cannot be something dreadful.
6. You didn’t create yourself. Do not be enamored or proud of your own talents.
7. Whatever you have in life is temporary.
8. Accept what happens in life just as it occurs.
9. Disabilities are only physical and therefore are not happening to the real, eternal you.
10. Find the self-control to respond with temperance to everything you encounter.
11. Never think anything you have is permanent. It was given. It may be taken.
12. Keep yourself in a state so that nothing upsets you. Even things you consider necessary must be second to the state of not being upset.
13. Don’t care what people think as you gain ground in becoming a true philosopher.
14. Don’t let yourself care about things that you can’t do anything about.
15. Act moderately in life. Take what comes to you without grasping or seeking more.
16. Sympathize with people who are grieving, but inside be stoic about what is happening.
17. Your part in life was chosen by God, so play your part well.
18. Don’t let signs or superstitions affect you. Imagine they all portend the positive.
19. Accepting what comes to you and then acting well on it leads to sure success.
20. Count to ten and control your mind’s reaction to events so you don’t overreact.
21. The reality is that hard things happen on earth constantly. Remember this always, so that you don’t start expecting only good things and craving them.
22. Keep seeking to become a true philosopher even though people won’t understand and will ridicule and belittle you. Later, they will appreciate and admire you.
23. Put yourself in the right mindset, and act outwardly like a true philosopher, and through perseverance you will achieve it in reality.
24. Be sincere and trustworthy like a true philosopher. This is of more value than money. Your value to others is far greater with trustworthiness than anything of monetary value that you could provide for them.
25. Be glad for what others receive, and pay for what you get.
26. Be as impartial about what happens to you as you are about what happens to others.
27. The things that happen on earth were meant to be.
28. Keep control of your own emotions and reactions so events and people do not rule you.
29. Think ahead about what you want to do. Consider wisely whether you are truly able to achieve your goal and do it well before embarking on it. If it is beyond your realm, set it aside.
30. Be appropriate in your relationship with everyone according to who they are.
31. Give God (or your gods) his due and don’t blame him for bad things that happen to you. Regard him with pious respect.
32. As far as fortune-telling, your reason and logic will show the truth better than superstition.
33. Maintain your moral standards at all times. Avoid empty or foolish talk. Hang around people who have high standards and avoid those who don’t, as much as you can. Ignore gossip or backbiting about you. Think of someone you really admire and try to act like them in all circumstances, such as when meeting others. Don’t talk about yourself too much. Don’t be vulgar, especially just for a laugh, and give the silent treatment to those who are vulgar, so you set an example to them.
34. Watch out not to lose your philosophical standing by giving way to too much enjoyment of pleasure. Be moderate always to stay in control.
35. Always do what you think is right, no matter the opinion of others who don’t agree.
36. The fellowship with others is worth more than the food you get when eating out together. Therefore, be sure to focus on the first and not the second.
37. Don’t agree to do something that you are unable to do. It dishonors you to not be able to complete what you commit to do.
38. Watch out equally well for your physical wellbeing and for your philosophical outlook.
39. Your own body can be the measurement for how many goods you should possess. It can only sustain so many or it turns into excess.
40. Don’t honor young girls and women for being sexy or sleeping with men. Instead, honor them for modesty and self-respect.
41. Let the pursuit of being a true philosopher occupy you fully with little time for physical pursuits.
42. Be unassuming when criticized. The person may be sincere in their thoughts about you.
43. Always look for the good or positive in a situation and come from that angle about it.
44. What you have is not who you are. Don’t boast or feel superior from what you have or can do.
45. Don’t judge by outward appearances. People might have hidden reasons for what they do.
46. Set an example of the superiority of being a true philosophers to others without philosophizing about your beliefs. Simply show them through what you do that the philosophical way is excellent.
47. Keep to yourself how you are living or training to adapt yourself to a modest life.
48. Guard against your own natural tendencies towards impulses and desires. Someone who is not seeking to be a true philosopher never blames himself for anything, while a true philosopher takes the blame and responsibility always, and therefore strives for benefit and not loss.
49. If you start to learn from earlier philosophers, don’t think you are suddenly wise. You have learned a little but are far from being an expert. And do you live by what you know?
50. Take very seriously whatever tasks are before you and do well with them, no matter what others say about it because there is nothing you can reasonably do about that.
51. You can see that the beliefs of a true philosopher are right and true. Why are you waiting to put them into effect? Socrates is greatly to be admired. Become like him, though you are not him.
52. Instead of debating the merits of the tenets of philosophy, adopt them ad act on them, and then discuss them afterwards.
53. Be ready for God, or destiny, to help you. Although unworthy, act on his leading. Whoever does this will have true wisdom and be admired by us. No one has any real power over you, though they can kill you. As Job said, “Though he (Yahweh) slay me, yet will I trust in him.” The harm may come from others, but the noble comportment and honest trust comes from you.