Oct 25, Karl Nordenstorm rated it really liked it. If you copy pasted the first paragraph into a modern service in the church of Sweden, the parishioners would not notice anything strange.
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The first paragraph sounds just like modern liturgy. Is this because medieval scribes tampered with Epictetus or does the influence go the other way? Interesting that when you look at stoicism in its entirety you see that its god is deist and hence can be seen entirely as an allegory for nature, but if you look at this paragraph in isolation it also makes sens If you copy pasted the first paragraph into a modern service in the church of Sweden, the parishioners would not notice anything strange.
Interesting that when you look at stoicism in its entirety you see that its god is deist and hence can be seen entirely as an allegory for nature, but if you look at this paragraph in isolation it also makes sense to interpret god as referring to the medieval god. I like to imagine that some scribe added the first paragraph to camouflage this as an early christian writing, and hence save it from a zealous abbot. In its entirety the Golden Sayings are a collection of quotations.
Like the gospel of Q? The Enchiridion is a sufficient text for understanding stoicism, by reading this you get a repeat, some irrelevant semi-theology motivating the practical advice and some unique sayings. Aug 24, Gwyn Ryan rated it it was ok Shelves: I liked Epictetus better than Marcus Aurelius, perhaps because Epictetus was actually lecturing and teaching people, while Aurelius was writing purely for himself.
Still not a Stoic though. Yet as the Golden Sayings unfold, they provide a compelling and persuasive opportunity for thoughtful readers to question the way in which they are living their lives. Epictetus, a Greek by heritage, had been enslaved during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero; later, having gained his freedom, he had to leave Rome when a later emperor, Domitian, arbitrarily banned all philosophers from the city.
Accordingly, he knew a good bit about the proverbial slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and he was interested in the question of how one endures the misfortunes that befall us all. It is worth noting that these Golden Sayings of Epictetus are not appearing in a form that was originally set forth by the philosopher himself.
Crossley provides us with a quick, time-saving way of exploring the ideas of this important philosopher. And indeed, much of what was written by a Greco-Roman philosopher born into slavery in the 1st century A. For men sell themselves at various prices. Stoicism, as Epictetus sets it forth, proceeds from the very different premise that a human being does not have to have a price. Epictetus invites readers to reflect that we are mortal, and that we know that we will suffer in this life.
That being said, each of us has the choice to accept with dignity those reversals in fortune that we cannot control or change. Acceptance is central to Stoic doctrine: He paid, however, this price for the lamp — that in exchange for it, he consented to become a thief: Speak well of them. And when thou hast learned to speak well of them, try to do good unto them, and thus thou wilt reap in return their speaking well of thee.
Yet in a word, we ask the Gods for what they do not give; and that, although they have given us so many things! Epictetus offers us another way of looking at life, one that compels our attention and makes us want to live our lives in a way that will earn the respect of our contemporaries.
Oct 17, Paul Taylor rated it liked it.
Nothing like as good as the daily Stoic. At times the archaic language can be impenetrable and at times way to much reference a feature of the period in which it was written to honouring the Gods. Also, although a summary some of the sayings were far too prolix and read more like a philosphy lecture than a collection of sayings.
The Golden Sayings of Epictetus
Oct 13, John Yelverton rated it really liked it. This book shows that there are some truths which are universal whether they are in the Bible or in Roman philosophy. That being said, though there are numerous instances where Epictetus seems to be in step with the Bible, there are just as many instances where he grossly departs from the teachings of the Bible as well.
Jan 22, Steve Fenton rated it liked it.
Stoic Wisdom: The Golden Sayings Of Epictetus – DAILY ZEN
I prefer Seneca's work on the subject as it is more complete and drawn together Letters From a Stoic. With Epictetus the text is drawn together from disparate sources and some may not actually be Epictetus. Having said that, there are some gems in the book. It pains me to give this only three stars, but the ebook edition I had not the Kindle version; this was the closest I could find was not very well edited - lots of typos and general carelessness putting it together.
Feb 21, Eugenio Viola rated it really liked it. Short yet very powerful reading. Great life advise from Epictetus. A bit difficult to read as the translation is a very old one. Section 3 - Fragments, the best part. Apr 23, Sourabh Singh rated it it was amazing. Ancient wisdom still relevant. One of my favorite from this book - "A ship should not ride on a single anchor, nor life on a single hope. Dec 08, Kenneth rated it liked it. Great wisdom from a Stoic. So I wrote about him in a humble style. He however on reading the letter returned it to me, with the words: No evil has happened unto me.
That is, with respect to the body; since with respect to Reason, thou art not inferior to the Gods, nor less than they. For the greatness of Reason is not measured by length or height, but by the resolves of the mind. Place then they happiness in that where in thou art equal to the Gods. Your desire is insatiable, mine is satisfied. You, too, let your desire go! Covet not many things and you will obtain.
Care not to be thought to know anything. If any should make account of thee, distrust theyself. Let silence be your general rule; or say only what is necessary and in few words. We shall, however, when occasion demands, enter into discourse sparingly avoiding common topics as gladiators, horse-races, athletes; and the perpetual talk about food and drink. Above all avoid speaking of persons, either in way of praise or blame, or comparison. If you find yourself cut off without escape among strangers and aliens, be silent.
However pleasant it may be to you to enlarge upon the risks you have run, others may not find such pleasure in listening to your adventures. Avoid provoking laughter also: To border on coarse talk is also dangerous. Rebuke the speaker or if not, at least by relapsing into silence, colouring, and looking annoyed, show that you are displeased with the subject. Epictetus maintains that the foundation of all philosophy is self-knowledge, that is, the conviction of our ignorance and gullibility ought to be the first subject of our study. The second concerns reasons, e. While the third, lastly, examines and establishes the reasons.
Both the Discourses and the Enchiridion begin by distinguishing between those things in our power prohairetic things and those things not in our power aprohairetic things. That alone is in our power, which is our own work; and in this class are our opinions, impulses, desires, and aversions. What, on the contrary, is not in our power, are our bodies, possessions, glory, and power. Any delusion on this point leads to the greatest errors, misfortunes, and troubles, and to the slavery of the soul.
a topsy-turvy life of quietude
We have no power over external things, and the good that ought to be the object of our earnest pursuit, is to be found only within ourselves. The determination between what is good and what is not good is made by the capacity for choice prohairesis. Practice then from the start to say to every harsh impression, "You are an impression, and not at all the thing you appear to be. We will not be troubled at any loss, but will say to ourselves on such an occasion: Every possession rests on opinion. What is to cry and to weep? What is misfortune, or a quarrel, or a complaint?
All these things are opinions; opinions founded on the delusion that what is not subject to our own choice can be either good or evil, which it cannot. Reason alone is good, the irrational is evil, and the irrational is intolerable to the rational. Epictetus teaches that the preconceptions prolepsis of good and evil are common to all. The essence of divinity is goodness; we have all good that could be given to us.
We should, therefore, cultivate the mind with special care. Every individual is connected with the rest of the world, and the universe is fashioned for universal harmony. For our country or friends we ought to be ready to undergo or perform the greatest difficulties. We are like travellers at an inn , or guests at a stranger's table; whatever is offered we take with thankfulness, and sometimes, when the turn comes, we may refuse; in the former case we are a worthy guest of the deities, and in the latter we appear as a sharer in their power.
It is only our opinions and principles that can render us unhappy, and it is only the ignorant person who finds fault with another. Thus prepared, we shall never be carried away by opinions.
Stoic Wisdom: The Golden Sayings Of Epictetus
The final entry of the Enchiridion, or Handbook, begins: Conduct me, Zeus, and thou, O Destiny, Wherever thy decree has fixed my lot. I follow willingly; and, did I not, Wicked and wretched would I follow still. Diogenes Laertius quoting Cleanthes ; quoted also by Seneca , Epistle Whoe'er yields properly to Fate is deemed Wise among men, and knows the laws of Heaven. From Euripides ' Fragments, O Crito, if it thus pleases the gods, thus let it be. From Plato 's Crito. Anytus and Meletus may indeed kill me, but they cannot harm me.
The philosophy of Epictetus is well known in the U. He was introduced to the works of Epictetus while at Stanford University. In Courage under Fire: Testing Epictetus's Doctrines in a Laboratory of Human Behavior , Stockdale credits Epictetus with helping him endure his seven and a half years in captivity, which included torture and four years in solitary confinement. Grief is the most offensive; Epictetus considered the suffering of grief an act of evil. It is a willful act, going against the will of God to have all men share happiness. Aurelius quotes from Epictetus repeatedly in his own work, Meditations , written during his campaigns in central Europe.
In the sixth century, the Neoplatonist philosopher Simplicius , who was persecuted for his pagan beliefs during the reign of Justinian , wrote an extant commentary on the Enchiridion. Your desire is insatiable, mine is satisfied. See children thrusting their hands into a narrow-necked jar, and striving to pull out the nuts and figs it contains: Above all avoid speaking of persons, either in the way of praise or blame, or comparison. If you can, win over the conversation of your company to what it should be by your own.
But if you should find yourself cut off without escape among strangers and aliens, be silent. What wouldst thou be found doing when overtaken by Death? If I might choose, I would be found doing some deed of true humanity, of wide import, beneficent and noble. But if I may not be found engaged in aught so lofty, let me hope at least for this—what none may hinder, what is surely in my power—that I may be found raising up in myself that which had fallen; learning to deal more wisely with the things of sense; working out my own tranquillity, and thus rendering that which is its due to every relation of life.