Epictetus

I’m reading Enchiridion of Epictetus, this is so great. I love it how the writers of olden times could actually say what they meant. Any modern writer would dilute their messages to appeal to the general public, which these days is more sensitive than ever. And not only are modern writers purposefully diluting their messages, they are starting to believe themselves too and choosing a life of mediocrity.

11
Never say of anything, ‘I lost it’, but say, ‘I gave it back’. Has your child died? It was given back. Has your wife died? She was given back. Has your estate been taken from you? Was not this also given back? But you say, ‘He who took it from me is wicked’. What does it matter to you through whom the Giver asked it back? As long as He gives it you, take care of it, but not as your own; treat it as passers-by treat an inn.

21
Keep before your eyes from day to day death and exile and all things that seem terrible, but death most of all, and then you will never set your thoughts on what is low and will never desire anything beyond measure.

For sheep do not bring grass to their shepherds and show them how much they have eaten, but they digest their fodder and then produce it in the form of wool and milk. Do the same yourself; instead of displaying your principles to the multitude, show them the results of the principles you have digested.

49
When a man prides himself on being able to understand and interpret the books of Chrysippus, say to yourself, ‘If Chrysippus had not written obscurely this man would have had nothing on which to pride himself.’

At lunch I started reading Epictetus’ Enchiridion using this kind of site that shows different translations side by side: https://enchiridion.tasuki.org/. I quickly realized I had read this work before so I decided to read the “modern English” translation by Stephen Walton, while comparing to the other translations, mostly the second youngest by Matheson.

Walton’s work is based on the previous translations rather than the original Greek text, so you might expect me who dislikes even normal translations to ignore it, but I found the modern English localization to be kind of interesting. Instead of horses it talks about cars, and public baths get substituted with concerts, although Olympic games stay Olympics. I did not like the part where Walton translated “gods” to “God”.

The language is obviously more approachable and I found it a bit refreshing to read the old school uncensored thinking in a language of today.

These days one cannot easily write without lengthy disclaimers, say, about the need to leave a spouse and family behind when a more important call arrives, but this text delivers such lines without hesitation.

Walton:

Because it’s better to starve while free from grief and fear than to live with abundance but be disturbed.

Higginson:

Remember that you must behave as at a banquet. Is anything brought round to you? Put out your hand, and take a moderate share. Does it pass by you? Do not stop it. Is it not yet come? Do not yearn in desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you. So with regard to children, wife, office, riches; and you will some time or other be worthy to feast with the gods. And if you do not so much as take the things which are set before you, but are able even to forego them, then you will not only be worthy to feast with the gods, but to rule with them also. For, by thus doing, Diogenes and Heraclitus, and others like them, deservedly became divine, and were so recognized.

Walton:

When an expert renders bad news, don’t let the sense of doom foreseen run away with you, but make the essential distinction and tell yourself: “This has nothing to do with ME. It may be the worse for my measly body, or my measly property or my measly family. But any news is good, if I decide it is, because I can make good use of it, whatever it is.”

Walton:

when someone annoys you, it’s your own attitude that’s annoying you.

Walton:

Think about awful-seeming things, especially death, every day. Then you can be grateful to be alive, and you won’t make unreasonable demands.

Walton:

Someone else’s spouse or parent or child dies, and we say it’s ordinary human mortality. When one’s own spouse or parent or child dies, one says “Oh, no! I can’t stand it!” But we should remember how we react to the news of someone else’s similar misfortune.”

Funny how the modern norm is to instead think that emotional response to own misfortune should be extended to others’ misfortune. People will get mad at you for not being sad on behalf of other’s. Although even Enchridion notes this and advices showing empathy for sake of social connections, but not letting yourself believe it.

Walton:

Rarely attend sporting events, but when you do attend, don’t be anyone’s fan but your own. Just wish for things to go as they go, and for the winner to be just whatever person or team wins. Don’t yell; don’t get yourself worked up. Afterward, don’t dwell on what you’ve seen, unless it offers something for the development of your character. If you talk too much about the event, it will be apparent that you paid it too much attention.

Walton:

Does someone drink a lot? Don’t say that he drinks badly, just that he drinks a lot. Unless you know exactly what’s behind a person’s actions, you can’t determine whether he’s doing anything badly. This way you can avoid making judgements in cases that you don’t really understand.

In the end I didn’t like the Walton translation that much, but I’ll have to read rest of the Stoic texts in those more archaic languages anyway so little was lost.