All the Works of Epictetus · 93 of 100

Book IV, Chapter 9

1.When you see another in Power, set against it, that you have the Advantage of not wanting Power. When you see an other rich, see what you have instead of Riches: for, if you have nothing in their Stead, you are miserable. But if you have the Advantage of not needing Riches, know, that you have something more than he hath, and of far greater Value. Another possesses a handsome Woman; you, the Happiness of not desiring a handsome Woman. Do you think these are little Matters? And what would those very Persons, who are rich, and powerful, and possess handsome Women, give, that they were able to despise Riches and Power, and those very Women whom they love, and whom they acquire! Do not you know of what Nature the Thirst of one in a Fever is? It hath no Resemblance to that of a Person in Health. He drinks, and is satisfied. But the other, after being delighted a very little while, grows sick, turns the Water into Choler, throws it up, hath Pain in his Bowels, and becomes more violently thirsty. Of the same Nature is it to have Riches, or Dominion, or enjoy a fine Woman, with Fondness of any one of these Things. Jealousy takes place; Fear of losing the beloved Object; indecent Discourses, indecent Designs; unbecoming Actions.

2.“And what, say you, do I lose all the while?” —— You were modest, Man, and are so no longer. Have you lost nothing? Instead of Chrysippus and Zeno, you read Aristides and Euenus. Have you lost nothing then? Instead of Socrates and Diogenes, you admire him who can corrupt and entice the most Women. You set out your Person, and would be handsome, when you are not. You love to appear in fine Clothes, to attract the Eyes of the Women; and, if you anywhere meet with a good Perfumer, you esteem yourself a happy Man. But formerly you did not so much as think of any of these Things; but only where you might find a decent Discourse, a worthy Person, a noble Design. For this Reason, you used to sleep like a Man; to appear in public like a Man; to wear a manly Dress; to hold Discourses worthy of a Man. And after this, do you tell me, you have lost nothing? What then do Men lose nothing but Money? Is not Modesty to be lost? Is not Decency to be lost? Or may he, who loses these, suffer no Damage? You indeed perhaps no longer think any thing of this Sort to be a Damage. But there was once a Time, when you accounted this to be the only Damage and Hurt; when you were anxiously afraid, lest any one should shake your Regard from these Discourses and Actions. See, it is not shaken by another; but by yourself. Fight against yourself, recover yourself to Decency, to Modesty, to Freedom. If you had formerly been told any of these Things of me, that any one prevailed on me to commit Adultery, to wear such a Dress as yours, to be perfumed, would not you have gone and laid violent Hands on the Man, who thus abused me? And will you not now then help yourself? For how much easier is that Assistance? You need not kill, or fetter, or affront, or go to Law with any one; but merely to talk with yourself, who will most readily be persuaded by you, and with whom no one hath greater Credit than you. And, in the first place, condemn your Actions: but when you have condemned them, do not despair of yourself, nor be like those poor-spirited People, who when they have once given Way, abandon themselves intirely, and are carried along, as by a Torrent. Take Example from the wrestling Masters. Hath the Boy fallen down? Get up again, they say; wrestle again, till you have acquired Strength. Be you affected in the same Manner. For, be assured, that there is nothing more tractable than the human Mind. You need but will, and it is done, it is set right: as, on the contrary, you need but nod over the Work, and it is ruined. For both Ruin and Recovery are from within.

3.“And, after all, what Good will this do me?” —— What greater Good do you seek? From impudent, you will become modest; from indecent, decent; from dissolute, sober. If you seek any greater Things than these, go on as you do. It is no longer in the Power of God to save you.