Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 2.22 ¶1 — Epictetus
From “On Friendship”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 2.22 ¶1
What a man applies himself to earnestly, that he naturally loves. Do men then apply themselves earnestly to the things which are bad? By no means. Well, do they apply themselves to things which in no way concern themselves? not to these either. It remains then that they employ themselves earnestly only about things which are good; and if they are earnestly employed about things, they love such things also. Whoever then understands what is good, can also know how to love: but he who cannot distinguish good from bad, and things which are neither good nor bad from both, how can he possess the power of loving? To love then is only in the power of the wise.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 2.22 ¶1, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/2.22.1
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesPeople devote themselves only to what they think is good for them, and what they devote themselves to they come to love, so real love depends on correctly telling good from bad. Love in the full sense belongs to those who understand what is truly good.
Themes and situations
- Family and love
- Friendship
- Virtue and character
- Judgements and impressions
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