Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 131 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 131
Let no wise man be averse to undertaking the office of a magistrate (τοῦ ἄρχειν): for it is both impious for a man to withdraw himself from being useful to those who have need of our services, and it is ignoble to give way to the worthless; for it is foolish to prefer being ill-governed to governing well.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 131, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/131
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA wise person should not shy away from public office: refusing to serve when people need you fails your duty, and it is cowardly to hand government over to unworthy people. It is foolish to prefer being badly governed to governing well.
Older wording
- “magistrate”
- — a public official
- “impious”
- — lacking respect for duty to the gods and community
- “ignoble”
- — lacking nobility of character
Themes and situations
- Duty and roles
- Community and our duty to others
- Leadership and power
- Courage
- Leading others
- A hard decision
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