Manuel

by Epictetus

« Parmi les choses qui existent, certaines dépendent de nous, d’autres non. »
Né vers le milieu du Ier  siècle après J.-C., fils d’esclave et esclave lui-même, Épictète avait toutes les dispositions nécessaires à l’application, dans sa propre vie, de ce condensé de morale stoïcienne. Dans un monde aveugle, les enseignements de ce manuel de lucidité nous rappellent que « en un mot, le seul ennemi qu’on ait à redouter, c’est soi-même ».
Traduit du grec par Myrto Gondicas

46 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 17, 2024

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