Epictetus · c. 50 – c. 135 CE
Fragments 67 — Epictetus
Translation by George Long (1877)
Epictetus, Fragments 67
Who among us does not admire the act of Lycurgus the Lacedaemonian? For after he was maimed in one of his eyes by one of the citizens, and the young man was delivered up to him by the people that he might punish him as he chose, Lycurgus spared him: and after instructing him and making him a good man he brought him into the theatre. When the Lacedaemonians expressed their surprise, Lycurgus said, I received from you this youth when he was insolent and violent: I restore him to you gentle and a good citizen.
Cite this passage
Epictetus, Fragments 67, tr. George Long (1877)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/epictetus-fragments/67
Epictetus, Enchiridion and Fragments, tr. George Long (1877). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesAfter a young man injured Lycurgus's eye and was handed over for him to punish as he wished, Lycurgus instead educated him and made him a decent citizen. He returned the youth to the people gentle and good rather than insolent and violent, showing that the best answer to a wrong is to make the wrongdoer better.
Older wording
- “insolent”
- — arrogantly disrespectful
- “Lacedaemonians”
- — the Spartans
Themes and situations
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Anger
- Justice and fairness
- Virtue and character
- Leadership and power
- Being angry with someone
- Being treated unfairly
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