Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 57 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 57
Diogenes said that no labour was good, unless the end (purpose) of it was courage and strength (τόνος) of the soul, but not of the body.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 57, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/57
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesEffort is only worthwhile when it builds courage and inner strength rather than just a stronger body. Judge your hard work by what it does for your character.
Older wording
- “τόνος”
- — tension, inner strength or tone
Themes and situations
- Resilience and endurance
- Courage
- Virtue and character
- Self-discipline and habit
Quote cards
The opening line of this passage as an image, with its citation — for sharing or keeping.