DiscoursesEpictetus

Discourses

Epictetus · c. 108 CE

Lectures by the former slave turned teacher, recorded by his student Arrian: blunt, practical lessons on freedom, judgment and what is up to us.

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Contents

Book 1

  1. 1.1Of the things which are under our control and not under our control
  2. 1.2How may a man preserve his proper character upon every occasion?
  3. 1.3From the thesis that God is the father of mankind how may one proceed to the consequences?
  4. 1.4Of progress
  5. 1.5Against the Academics
  6. 1.6Of providence
  7. 1.7Of the use of equivocal premisses, hypothetical arguments and the like
  8. 1.8That the reasoning faculties, in the case of the uneducated, are not free from error
  9. 1.9How from the thesis that we are akin to God may a man proceed to the consequences?
  10. 1.10To those who have set their hearts on preferment at Rome
  11. 1.11Of family affection
  12. 1.12Of contentment
  13. 1.13How may each several thing be done acceptably to the gods?
  14. 1.14That the Deity oversees all men
  15. 1.15What does philosophy profess?
  16. 1.16Of providence
  17. 1.17That the art of reasoning is indispensable
  18. 1.18That we ought not to be angry with the erring
  19. 1.19How ought we to bear ourselves toward tyrants?
  20. 1.20How the reasoning faculty contemplates itself
  21. 1.21To those who would be admired
  22. 1.22Of our preconceptions
  23. 1.23In answer to Epicurus
  24. 1.24How should we struggle against difficulties?
  25. 1.25Upon the same theme
  26. 1.26What is the rule of life?
  27. 1.27In how many ways do the external impressions arise, and what aids should we have ready at hand to deal with them?
  28. 1.28That we ought not to be angry with men; and what are the little things and the great among men?
  29. 1.29Of steadfastness
  30. 1.30What aid ought we to have ready at hand in difficulties?

Book 2

  1. 2.1That confidence does not conflict with caution
  2. 2.2On tranquillity
  3. 2.3To those who recommend persons to the philosophers
  4. 2.4To the man who had once been caught in adultery
  5. 2.5How are magnanimity and carefulness compatible?
  6. 2.6Of indifference in things
  7. 2.7How should one employ Divination?
  8. 2.8What is the true nature of the good?
  9. 2.9That although we are unable to fulfil the profession of a man, we adopt that of a philosopher
  10. 2.10How is it possible to discover a man's duties from the designations which he bears?
  11. 2.11What is the beginning of philosophy?
  12. 2.12Upon the art of argumentation
  13. 2.13Of anxiety
  14. 2.14To Naso
  15. 2.15To those who cling obstinately to the judgements which they have once formed
  16. 2.16That we do not practise the application of our judgements about things good and evil
  17. 2.17How ought we adjust our preconceptions to individual instances?
  18. 2.18How must we struggle against our external impressions?
  19. 2.19To those who take up the teachings of the philosophers only to talk about them
  20. 2.20Against Epicureans and Academics
  21. 2.21Of inconsistency
  22. 2.22Of friendship
  23. 2.23Of the faculty of expression
  24. 2.24To one of those whom he did not deem worthy
  25. 2.25How is logic necessary?
  26. 2.26What is the distinctive characteristic of error?

Book 3

  1. 3.1Of personal adornment
  2. 3.2The fields of study in which the man who expects to make progress will have to go into training; and that we neglect what is most important
  3. 3.3What is the subject-matter with which the good man has to deal; and what should he the chief object of our training?
  4. 3.4To the man who look sides, in an undignified manner, while in a theatre
  5. 3.5To those who leave school because of illness
  6. 3.6Some scattered sayings
  7. 3.7A conversation with the Imperial Bailiff of the Free Cities, who was an Epicurean
  8. 3.8How ought we to exercise ourselves to deal with the impressions of our senses?
  9. 3.9To a certain rhetorician who was going to Rome for a lawsuit
  10. 3.10How ought we to bear our illnesses?
  11. 3.11Some scattered sayings
  12. 3.12Of training
  13. 3.13The meaning of a forlorn state, and the kind of person a forlorn man is
  14. 3.14Some scattered sayings
  15. 3.15That we ought to approach each separate thing with circumspection
  16. 3.16That one should enter cautiously into social intercourse
  17. 3.17Of Providence
  18. 3.18That we ought not to allow any news to disturb us
  19. 3.19What is the position of the layman, and what that of the philosopher?
  20. 3.20That it is possible to derive advantage from everything external
  21. 3.21To those who enter light-heartedly upon the profession of lecturing
  22. 3.22On the calling of a Cynic
  23. 3.23To those who read and discuss for the purpose of display
  24. 3.24That we ought not to yearn for the things which are not under our control
  25. 3.25To those who fail to achieve their purposes
  26. 3.26To those who fear want

Book 4

  1. 4.1Of freedom
  2. 4.2Of social intercourse
  3. 4.3What things should be exchanged for what things?
  4. 4.4To those who have set their hearts upon living in peace
  5. 4.5Against the contentious and brutal
  6. 4.6To those who are vexed at being pitied
  7. 4.7Of freedom from fear
  8. 4.8To those who hastily assume the guise of the philosophers
  9. 4.9To the man who had become shameless
  10. 4.10What ought we to despise and on what place a high value?
  11. 4.11Of cleanliness
  12. 4.12Of attention
  13. 4.13To those who lightly talk about their own affairs

Text: W. A. Oldfather’s translation, from Wikisource. Public domain. George Long’s translation (1877), from Wikisource. Public domain in the US. P. E. Matheson’s translation (1916), from Wikisource. Public domain in the US.