Handbook - Chapter Five
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: Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things.
Chapter: 5 of 53
Sections: 1
Author: Epictetus
5. Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things.
Death, for instance, is not terrible, else it would have appeared so to Socrates.
But the terror consists in our notion of death that it is terrible.
When therefore we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved, let us never attribute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own principles.
An uninstructed person will lay the fault of his own bad condition upon others.
Someone just starting instruction will lay the fault on himself.
Some who is perfectly instructed will place blame neither on others nor on himself.
Book: Handbook
Subtitle: The ancient summary of Epictetus's teachings and philosophy
Author: Epictetus
Chapter: Chapter Five (Chapter 5 of 53)
Sections in this chapter:
Section 1:
5. Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things.
Death, for instance, is not terrible, else it would have appeared so to Socrates.
But the terror consists in our notion of death that it is terrible.
When therefore we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved, let us never attribute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own principles.
An uninstructed person will lay the fault of his own bad condition upon others.
Someone just starting instruction will lay the fault on himself.
Some who is perfectly instructed will place blame neither on others nor on himself.