Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 2.18 ¶1 — Epictetus
From “How We Should Struggle Against Appearances”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 2.18 ¶1
Every habit and faculty is maintained and increased by the corresponding actions: the habit of walking by walking, the habit of running by running. If you would be a good reader, read; if a writer, write. But when you shall not have read for thirty days in succession, but have done something else, you will know the consequence. In the same way, if you shall have lain down ten days, get up and attempt to make a long walk, and you will see how your legs are weakened. Generally then if you would make anything a habit, do it; if you would not make it a habit, do not do it, but accustom yourself to do something else in place of it.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 2.18 ¶1, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/2.18.1
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesHabits and abilities grow through repeated action and fade when neglected: to become a good reader, read; to become a writer, write; skip it for a month and you will feel the loss. If you want to build a habit, do it, and if you want to drop one, stop feeding it and replace it with something else.
Themes and situations
- Self-discipline and habit
- Learning and progress
- Breaking a bad habit
- Procrastination
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