Handbook - Chapter Fourteen
Book Subtitle: The ancient summary of Epictetus's teachings and philosophy
Book Description: In this book, the whole of Epictetus' philosophy is condensed into 52 key lessons by his student Arrian. The handbook was meant to be kept 'on-hand' by ancient students of Stoicism. It is a guide to be referenced when navigating the trials of life. This makes it both a vivid distillation of the most important Stoic ideas and a tool for the practical application of the philosophy.
Chapter Subtitle: If you wish your children, and your wife, and your friends to live for ever, you are stupid; for you wish to be in control of things which you cannot, you wish for things that belong to others to be your own.
Chapter: 14 of 53
Sections: 1
Author: Epictetus
14. If you wish your children, and your wife, and your friends to live for ever, you are stupid; for you wish to be in control of things which you cannot, you wish for things that belong to others to be your own.
So likewise, if you wish your servant to be without fault, you are a fool; for you wish vice not to be vice, but something else.
But, if you wish to have your desires undisappointed, this is in your own control.
Exercise, therefore, what is in your control.
He is the master of every other person who is able to confer or remove whatever that person wishes either to have or to avoid.
Whoever, then, would be free, let him wish nothing, let him decline nothing, which depends on others else he must necessarily be a slave.
Book: Handbook
Subtitle: The ancient summary of Epictetus's teachings and philosophy
Author: Epictetus
Chapter: Chapter Fourteen (Chapter 14 of 53)
Sections in this chapter:
Section 1:
14. If you wish your children, and your wife, and your friends to live for ever, you are stupid; for you wish to be in control of things which you cannot, you wish for things that belong to others to be your own.
So likewise, if you wish your servant to be without fault, you are a fool; for you wish vice not to be vice, but something else.
But, if you wish to have your desires undisappointed, this is in your own control.
Exercise, therefore, what is in your control.
He is the master of every other person who is able to confer or remove whatever that person wishes either to have or to avoid.
Whoever, then, would be free, let him wish nothing, let him decline nothing, which depends on others else he must necessarily be a slave.