Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 3.17 ¶2 — Epictetus
From “On Providence”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 3.17 ¶2
“But my wife treats me badly.” Well, if any man asks you what this is, say, “my wife treats me badly.” Is there then nothing more? Nothing.—“My father gives me nothing.”—[What is this? my father gives me nothing—Is there nothing else then?—Nothing]: but to say that this is an evil is something which must be added to it externally, and falsely added. For this reason we must not get rid of poverty, but of the opinion about poverty, and then we shall be happy.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 3.17 ¶2, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/3.17.2
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesThe bare fact, such as a spouse treating you badly or a parent giving you nothing, is only that. Calling it an evil is a judgement you add on top. So the aim is not to abolish poverty first but to drop the belief that poverty is a disaster, and then you can be happy.
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- What is in our control
- Wealth and poverty
- Family and love
- Peace of mind
- Family conflict
- Losing money
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