Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 174 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 174
When Archelaus was sending for Socrates to make him rich, Socrates told the messengers to return this answer: At Athens four measures (choenices) of meal are sold for one obolus (the sixth of a drachme), and the fountains run with water: if what I have is not enough (sufficient) for me, yet I am sufficient for what I have, and so it becomes sufficient for me. Do you not see that it was with no nobler voice that Polus acted the part of Oedipus as king than of Oedipus as a wanderer and beggar at Colonus? Then shall the good man appear to be inferior to Polus, and unable to act well every character (personage) imposed on him by the Deity? and shall he not imitate Ulysses, who even in rags made no worse figure than in the soft purple robe?
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 174, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/174
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesSocrates turned down a rich king's offer because plain food and free water were enough for him, and if they were not, he could still make himself equal to what he had. A good person should play whatever part life hands them, rich or poor, as well as an actor plays a king or a beggar, with the same dignity in rags as in purple.
Older wording
- “choenices”
- — a Greek unit of dry measure for grain, roughly a quart
- “obolus”
- — a small Greek coin
- “Polus”
- — a famous Greek tragic actor
Themes and situations
- Simplicity and frugality
- Wealth and poverty
- Duty and roles
- Acceptance and fate
- Peace of mind
- Money, status and wanting more
- Losing money
- A career setback
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