Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 56 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 56
It is just to commend Agrippinus for this reason, that though he was a man of the highest worth, he never praised himself; but even if another person praised him, he would blush. And he was such a man (Epictetus said) that he would write in praise of anything disagreeable that befell him; if it was a fever, he would write of a fever; if he was disgraced, he would write of disgrace; if he were banished, of banishment. And on one occasion (he mentioned) when he was going to dine, a messenger brought him news that Nero commanded him to go into banishment; on which Agrippinus said, Well then we will dine at Aricia.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 56, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/56
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesAgrippinus was admired because he never boasted and blushed when others praised him, and he treated every misfortune, whether fever, disgrace or exile, as something to reflect on calmly. When news came that Nero had ordered him into exile, he carried on with his evening, remarking that dinner would simply be somewhere else.
Older wording
- “banishment”
- — being forced into exile
Themes and situations
- Acceptance and fate
- Exile and loss of home
- Pride and humility
- Courage
- Resilience and endurance
- Moving away or exile
- Being treated unfairly
- Handling success
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