The Stoic HANDBOOK - College of Stoic Philosophers

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Letter LIII, 8: Why will no one confess his faults? Because he is still in their grasp. Only one who is awake can remember a dream, and similarly a confession of error is proof of a sound mind. Let us, therefore, rouse ourselves, that we may be able to correct our mistakes. Philosophy, however, is the only power that can stir us, the only power that can shake off our deep slumber. Letter LV, 1: I have just returned from a ride in my litter, and I am as weary as if I had walked the distance instead of being seated....Nature gave us legs to do our own walking and eyes to do our own seeing. Our luxuries have condemned us to weakness, and we have ceased to be able to do that which we have long declined to do. Letter LV, 8: The place where you live contributes little to your tranquility; it is the mind which must make everything agreeable to itself. I have seen men despondent in a bright and beautiful villa, and I have seen men exhausting themselves with business in the midst of a solitude. Letter LXVIII, 13: Everything depends on opinion – ambition, luxury, greed – all are based on opinion. It is according to opinion that we suffer. A man is as wretched as he has convinced himself that he is. Ibid., 21: Do you think that you are doing nothing if you preserve your good nature in your illness? You will be showing that a disease can be overcome, or at any rate endured. There is, I assure you, a place for courage even upon a bed of sickness. It is not only combat that proves the soul alert and unconquered by fear; we can display bravery even when lying in a bed. XC, 15: The things that are truly necessary require no great effort for their acquisition; it is only the luxuries that call for so much labor. Ibid., 18: Nature was not unkind to humanity.... It is we who have made everything difficult for ourselves through our disdain for what is easy. Houses, shelter, creature comforts, food, and all that has now become the source of vast trouble, were once ready at hand, free to all, and obtainable for little effort. It is we who have made all those things valuable, we who have made them admired, we who have caused them to be sought for by numerous and complicated ways. Nature makes no great demands. It is luxury that has turned its back upon Nature. Each day we compound our desire for luxuries, and in all ages these desires have been gathering strength and promoting our vices. Ibid., 28: The path of wisdom leads to a state of happiness. In this direction it guides and opens the way for us. It shows us what things are truly bad and what things are seemingly bad, and with this understanding it strips our minds of vain illusion. It bestows upon us a greatness which 20
is real and substantial, even as it reveals the inflated and showy but filled with emptiness. Letter XCII, 3: What is the happy life? It is peace of mind and lasting tranquility. This will be yours if you possess greatness of soul. It will be yours if you possess the steadfastness that resolutely clings to a good judgment just reached. How do you reach this condition? By gaining a complete view of truth, by maintaining order, measure, fitness, and a will that is inoffensive and kindly, that is intent upon reason and never departs therefrom, that commands at the same time love and admiration. In short, to give you the principle in brief compass, the wise man's soul ought to be such as would be proper for a god. Epictetus (60-120 CE) The original discourses were class notes written by Arrian, a devoted pupil of Epictetus, the great Stoic teacher and former slave. Arrian went on to become a distinguished statesman during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, but it is for these class notes that he will always be remembered. The following passages have been selected to give you both the essence of Epictetus's lectures and the manner in which he presented them. They are based upon George Long's 1904 translation and have been edited by Erik Wiegardt to reflect a more contemporary punctuation and prose. Book I Chapter 1 Of all the human faculties, you will find only one which is capable of both contemplating itself and of approving or disapproving of itself. Does grammar possess the contemplating power? No....when you write something to your friend grammar will tell you what words you should write, but whether you should write or not grammar will not tell you. And so it is with music as to musical sounds, but whether you should sing at the present time and play on the lute, or do neither, music will not tell you. What faculty then will tell you? That which contemplates both itself and all other things. And what is this faculty? The rational faculty; for this is the only faculty that we have received [from Nature] which examines itself...and all other faculties. As was then fitting, that which is best of all and supreme over all is the only thing which the gods have placed in our power – so that we may make the right use of appearances. All other things they have not placed in our power. But now, when it is in our power to look after one thing, and to attach ourselves to it, we prefer to look after many things, and to be bound to 21
Page 1 and 2: The Stoic HANDBOOK Second Edition b
Page 3 and 4: Introduction The Philosopher Everyo
Page 5 and 6: egardless of all else that befalls
Page 7 and 8: FAQs The following are frequently a
Page 9 and 10: value our reason above all, because
Page 11 and 12: The Stoic Tradition That which cont
Page 13 and 14: ecame impatient with their limited
Page 15 and 16: described above, was a devout and p
Page 17 and 18: that we should not be deceived by t
Page 19: Letter XVI, 3: Philosophy is not a
Page 23 and 24: Book II Chapter 2 Consider, you who
Page 25 and 26: everything which has come into exis
Page 27 and 28: proper fruit. He is like the horse
Page 29 and 30: “The DOE” an extreme synthesis
Page 31 and 32: the name that must always be honora
Page 33 and 34: When we say that virtue and the lac
Page 35 and 36: the thoughts. Dye it, then, with th
Page 37 and 38: Four Practical Exercises Stoics hav
Page 39 and 40: 2. The Queen Maab defense. In the m
Page 41: weight. Without effort, then, we ge

The Stoic HANDBOOK - College of Stoic Philosophers

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