Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Discourses 3.8 ¶2 — Epictetus
From “How We Must Exercise Ourselves Against Appearances (Φαντασίας)”
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Discourses 3.8 ¶2
Hear how the Romans feel towards philosophers, if you would like to know. Italicus, who was the most in repute of the philosophers, once when I was present being vexed with his own friends and as if he was suffering something intolerable said, “I cannot bear it, you are killing me: you will make me such as that man is;” pointing to me.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Discourses 3.8 ¶2, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/discourses/3.8.2
Epictetus, Discourses (as recorded by Arrian), tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA brief anecdote in which a famous philosopher, irritated with his friends, complains that they are killing him by wanting him to become like Epictetus; it illustrates how Romans reacted to philosophers.
Themes and situations
- Learning and progress
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