Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 1.4 ¶5 — Epictetus
From “Of Progress or Improvement”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 1.4 ¶5
What then does Chrysippus teach us? The reply is, to know that these things are not false, from which happiness comes and tranquillity arises. Take my books, and you will learn how true and conformable to nature are the things which make me free from perturbations. O great good fortune! O the great benefactor who points out the way! To Triptolemus all men have erected temples and altars, because he gave us food by cultivation; but to him who discovered truth and brought it to light and communicated it to all, not the truth which shows us how to live, but how to live well, who of you for this reason has built an altar, or a temple, or has dedicated a statue, or who worships God for this? Because the gods have given the vine, or wheat, we sacrifice to them: but because they have produced in the human mind that fruit by which they designed to show us the truth which relates to happiness, shall we not thank God for this?
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 1.4 ¶5, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/1.4.5
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesPhilosophy's teachings that free us from disturbing emotions are real discoveries, yet people build altars to the inventor of farming and none to whoever found the truth about how to live well. We thank the gods for wheat and vines, so we should also thank them for giving the human mind the ability to understand what brings happiness.
Older wording
- “Triptolemus”
- — a mythical hero who taught people farming
- “perturbations”
- — disturbing emotions
Themes and situations
- Gratitude
- Learning and progress
- Virtue and character
- Peace of mind
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