All the Works of Epictetus · 28 of 100

Book I, Chapter 26

1.As one [of his Scholars] was reading hypothetical Syllogisms; it is likewise a Law in these, says Epictetus, to admit what follows from the Hypothesis: but much more is it a Law in Life, to do what follows from Nature. For, if we desire in every Subject of Action, and in every Circumstance, to keep up to Nature; we must, on every Occasion, evidently make it our Aim, neither to let Consequences escape our Observation, nor to admit Contradictions. Philosophers, therefore, first exercise us in Theory, which is the more easy Task, and then lead us to the more difficult: for in Theory, there is nothing to oppose our following what we are taught; but in Life, there are many Things to draw us aside. It is ridiculous then, to say, we must begin from these: for it is not easy to begin from the most difficult: and this Excuse must be made to those Parents, who dislike that their Children should learn philosophical Speculations. —— “Am I to blame then, Sir, and ignorant of my Duty, and of what is incumbent on me? If this is neither to be learnt, nor taught, why do you find fault with me? If it is to be taught, pray teach me yourself: or, if you cannot, give me Leave to learn it from those who profess to understand it. Besides: do you think that I voluntarily fall into Evil, and miss of Good? Heaven forbid! What then, is the Cause of my Faults?” Ignorance. “Are you not willing then, that I should get rid of my Ignorance? Who was ever taught the Art of Music, or Navigation, by Anger? Do you expect then, that your Anger should teach me the Art of Living?” —— This howver, is allowed to be said only by one who really hath that Intention. But he who reads these Things, and applies to the Philosophers, merely for the sake of shewing, at an Entertainment, that he understands hypothetical Syllogisms; what doth he do it for, but to be admired by some Senator, who happens to sit near him . . . . .

2.. . . . . . . I once saw a Person weeping and embracing the Knees of Epaphroditus; and deploring his hard Fortune, that he had not 50,000 l. left. What said Epaphroditus, then? Did he laugh at him, as we should do? No: but cried out with Astonishment, Poor Man! How could you be silent? How could you bear it?

3.. . . . . . . The first Step, therefore, towards becoming a Philosopher, is, being sensible in what State the ruling Faculty of the Mind is; for, when a Person knows it to be in a weak one, he will not immediately employ it in great Attempts, But, for want of this, some, who can scarce get down a Morsel, buy, and set themselves to swallow, whole Treatises; and so they throw them up again, or cannot digest them: and then come Cholics, Fluxes, and Fevers. Such Persons ought to consider what they can bear. Indeed, it is easy to convince an ignorant Person in Theory; but in Matters relating to Life, no one offers himself to Conviction; and we hate those who have convinced us. Socrates used to say, that we ought not to live a Life unexamined.