Handbook of Épictète

Le' Manuel of Epictète' is a work compiled by Arrien and bringing back the doctrines of the stoical philosopher Epictète. Its first principle is to attach importance only to what depends on us. However much on things do not depend on it completely. What depends truly on us, these is the representations that we have of the things. By controlling them, we become free. All the other ideas of the Manuel derive from this principle first. The work closes by quotations of Greek authors famous, intended to remind quickly the principles of the Manuel .

Principles of the Manual

Among the things which exist, the ones depend on us, the others not. The things which depend on us are free, the others are in a state of impotence.

Croire that the things which do not depend on us depend on us is the certainty to meet obstacles, consequently, the certainty of misfortune. That which is occupied only on what depends on him knows happiness and any more damage does not undergo which could harm to him.

the painful representation is only pure representation. It depends on us. Its object, it, do not depend on us: it thus does not concern us. However what disturbs us is not the object but the judgment which we carry on him. Thus, we are responsible for our disorder when this one exists.

Before carrying out an action it is necessary to put at the spirit what it is.

the only thing which is really us, which one can be to trust, it is the use of the representations.

the objects to which we stick are provisional gifts, death will take again them.

It is necessary to accept what arrives such as it arrives, without wanting a priori: thus, one is happy.

the disease is an embarrassment for the body but not for the philosophical lifestyle choice. It is preferable to die of hunger while having lived as a philosopher, by the control of the representations, to have the full belly and to be sad.

It is necessary to support to appear stupid nonto the philosophers.

One can want what is with our range. What depends on the other, to want it returns to us servile.

Vis-a-vis somebody who is in the pain, it is necessary to sympathize in words but not in heart, to keep the control of our representations. What afflicts this man is his representation, not the event, but it does not know it.

One does not choose his role in the drama of the life.

Is invincible that which launches out only in the engagements where the victory depends only on him.

the only way of freedom is the contempt of the things which do not depend on us.

When somebody irritates you, knows that it is your value judgment which irritates you.

It is necessary to be accustomed to think of the things which one believes frightening.

the place of the philosopher in the city is to be a paragon of virtue, not to shine there by the loads which it reaches.

We must react vis-a-vis our misfortunes as if they arrived at others.

Just as one does not install a target for the errors of shooting, it N does not have there nature of the evil.

the things which it is advisable to make measure according to the relation compared to the other.

It should be considered that the gods exist and that they control the world in a way right. Thus, they are not blamed. That which tries to reach what does not depend on him will blame necessarily the gods.

It is necessary to resort to the divination for the cases where the reason reveals us nothing. But which worries about the future since the only good depends on our reactions?

It is necessary to keep silence as much as possible, to be expressed only in few words.

It is necessary to avoid the frequentation of nonthe philosophers, one is likely to come out from it corrupted.

One should satisfy the needs for the body only within the limit of the necessary one. To be delayed there is the mark of nonthe philosophers, it is necessary to devote itself to it like something of accessory.

If somebody known as of the evil of us, to say that he does not say of it as much as if he knew us very.

One should not be afraid of the powerful ones: they cannot anything against freedom philosopher.

Before a pleasure, it is necessary to be wary of the representation, to represent the weight of the regret to have yielded there and n the other hand the transitory character of this pleasure. If the pleasure always appears trying, one can then devote oneself to it.

not to fear criticisms of nonthe philosophers. Their judgment is without value if one thinks well of having acted.

To assume a role with the top of its capacities, it is to go ridiculous but also to neglect our role.

When somebody makes an insult towards us, to think that he judged it good. If it were mistaken, it is him which suffers from it.

Impossible to determine if others act well or badly before knowing the reasons for its action.

Philosopher is not to speak about philosophy but to live its philosophy.

not to praise itself of its asceticism when one reached that point.

What appears the best after reflection must be a intransgressible law.

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