Epictetus Stoic Classics Collection: The Discourses & The Enchiridion of Epictetus

by Epictetus, George Long (translator)

138 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2023

About the author

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was probably born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey), and lived in Rome until his exile to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece, where he lived most of his life and died. His teachings were noted down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses. Philosophy, he taught, is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline. To Epictetus, all external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control, but we can accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. Individuals, however, are responsible for their own actions which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power. As part of the universal city that is the universe, human beings have a duty of care to all fellow humans. The person who followed these precepts would achieve happiness.

Other language versions:
Epictète
Epícteto
Epiktet

Reviews

[Abigail Bok · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not love this translation, so I read only The Enchiridion, not the entire Discourses. I have since learned that the great Bluestocking classicist Elizabeth Carter published a translation in 1758 and it is currently in print, so I will wait to do a proper review till after that arrives.