The Enchiridion by Epictetus (Updated Translation)

Book Summary

The "Enchiridion" or "Handbook" of Epictetus, compiled by his student Arrian around 125 CE, stands as one of the most concise and powerful introductions to Stoic philosophy. Written as a practical guide for daily living, it distills Stoic principles into clear maxims and exercises focused on achieving inner freedom and tranquility regardless of external circumstances.

The work begins with Epictetus's fundamental distinction between what is in our control and what is not. He argues that our opinions, impulses, desires, and aversions are within our power, while our body, property, reputation, and positions are not. According to Stoic principles, true freedom comes from focusing exclusively on what we can control while accepting everything else with equanimity.

Epictetus emphasizes that it is not events themselves that disturb us, but our judgments about them. He provides practical exercises for examining and correcting these judgments, teaching students to see that their distress comes not from reality but from their interpretations of reality. This principle becomes a cornerstone for modern cognitive therapy.

Throughout the text, Epictetus addresses how to maintain tranquility in the face of loss, insult, and adversity. He advises students to prepare themselves for difficulties by regularly contemplating the impermanent nature of all things. When losing something or someone precious, he recommends saying, "I have returned it" rather than "I have lost it."

The work provides guidance on social relations, advising students to accept others' faults with patience while focusing on their own moral progress. Epictetus warns against being overly concerned with others' opinions, arguing that from a Stoic perspective, worth comes from maintaining our principles rather than seeking approval.

A significant portion of the text deals with practical applications of Stoic principles in daily life. Epictetus gives advice on everything from how to behave at dinner parties to how to approach public office, always emphasizing the importance of maintaining philosophical principles in every situation.

The "Enchiridion" concludes with Epictetus's Stoic vision of happiness through accepting the natural order of the universe. He argues that, according to Stoic philosophy, contentment comes from aligning our will with the divine order, accepting whatever happens as part of a larger plan.

The Enchiridion by Epictetus (Modern, Updated Translation)

Support more translations by picking up a copy of this book on Amazon.

Buy Book on Amazon

Free Book Preview (In Modern English)

The Enchiridion

1

Some things are under our control, and some things aren't. We can control our opinions, goals, desires, dislikes, and basically anything that's truly up to us. On the other hand, things like our body, possessions, reputation, job, and generally anything that's not entirely ours to manage are beyond our control.

Things that are within our control are naturally free, unrestricted, and unhindered. But things beyond our control are weak, dependent, restricted, and not really ours. Remember, if you try to claim freedom over things that are naturally dependent and take what belongs to others as your own, you'll face obstacles, feel upset, get disturbed, and blame both gods and people. But if you only claim what's truly yours and see what belongs to others for what it really is, then no one can force you, no one can limit you. You won't blame anyone, you won't accuse anyone, you won't do anything against your will. No one will hurt you, you won't have enemies, and you won't suffer any harm.

So, if you're aiming for such big goals, remember that you can't let yourself get even a little distracted by other things. You need to completely let go of some of them and put others on hold for now. But if you want to have these big goals and also gain power and wealth, you might miss out on power and wealth while chasing those goals. And you'll definitely miss out on what truly brings happiness and freedom.

Try to immediately recognize any unpleasant appearance by saying, "You're just an appearance, not the real deal." Then, analyze it using the guidelines you have, especially this one: Does it relate to things within your control or not? If it's something beyond your control, be ready to say it doesn't matter to you.

2

Remember that wanting something means you're aiming to get it, and avoiding something means you're trying to stay away from it. If you don't get what you want, you'll feel disappointed, and if you end up facing what you want to avoid, you'll feel miserable. So, if you only avoid things you can actually control, you'll never have to deal with what you don't want. But if you try to avoid things like sickness, death, or poverty, you're risking unhappiness. Stop worrying about things you can't control and focus on avoiding things you can control. For now, try to hold back on wanting things too much. If you want things that are out of your control, you'll likely end up disappointed. You're not yet fully in control of the things you can desire, so be careful with what you choose to want. Whenever you need to go after or avoid something, do it with care, gentleness, and balance.

3

When it comes to things that either make you happy, are useful, or are dearly loved, remind yourself of their true nature, starting with the smallest things: if you have a favorite cup, remember it's just a cup that you like—so if it breaks, you can handle it. If you hug your child or your spouse, remember you're hugging a mortal being—so if either of them passes away, you can cope with it.

4

Whenever you start doing something, remind yourself of what usually happens during that activity. If you're going to take a bath, think about the typical things that happen there—some people might be splashing water, others might be crowding in, some might be arguing, and others might be taking things. By preparing yourself like this, you can handle the situation better by saying, "I'm going to take a bath and stay calm and in tune with what's happening around me." Do this for every activity. That way, if something unexpected happens while you're bathing, you can remind yourself, "I didn't just want to take a bath; I wanted to stay calm and in tune with what's happening. I won't achieve that if I get upset about things that occur."

5

People aren't upset by things themselves, but by how they see those things. For example, death isn't inherently scary; if it were, Socrates would have found it terrifying. The fear comes from our belief that death is something to be afraid of. So, when we feel blocked, upset, or sad, we shouldn't blame others but look at ourselves—specifically, our own perspectives. It's typical for someone who hasn't learned this to blame others for their problems. Someone starting to learn will blame themselves, and someone who has fully learned won't blame anyone, not even themselves.

6

Don't get too proud about something that's not your own achievement. If a horse were to brag and say, "I'm beautiful," that might be understandable. But if you brag and say, "I have a beautiful horse," remember that you're just boasting about the horse's qualities, not your own. So, what's truly yours? It's how you make use of the things in life. When you're in tune with nature in this way, you'll have a real reason to feel proud because you'll be proud of something that's genuinely yours.

7

Imagine you're on a journey, and your ship is anchored. If you go ashore to get some water, you might enjoy picking up a shellfish or a truffle along the way. But remember, your main focus should be on the ship, staying alert in case the captain calls you back. If that happens, you need to drop everything and head back to the ship, so you don't end up being dragged back like a sheep. Similarly, in life, if you have a wife or child, that's perfectly fine. But if the captain calls, you need to run back to the ship, leaving everything behind without a second thought. And if you're older, try not to wander too far from the ship, so you're not missing when it's time to return.

8

Don't demand that things happen the way you want; instead, want them to happen the way they do, and you'll be better off.

9

Illness can slow down your body, but it doesn't have to affect your determination unless you let it. A leg injury might limit your movement, but it doesn't have to limit your willpower. Keep this in mind for everything that happens. You'll see that it might be a setback for something physical, but it doesn't have to be a setback for you personally.

10

Whenever something happens, take a moment to reflect and ask yourself what skill or quality you need to handle it. If you meet someone attractive, self-control is what you'll need; if you're in pain, you'll need courage; if someone insults you, you'll need patience. By getting into this habit, life's challenges won't feel so overwhelming.

11

Instead of saying, "I've lost it," say, "I've given it back." Did your child pass away? They've been returned. Did your wife pass away? She's been returned. Has your property been taken away? That's also been returned. "But it was a bad person who took it." Why does it matter to you who took it back on behalf of the one who gave it to you? While you're allowed to have it, treat it like something that's not really yours, just like travelers do at a hotel.

12

If you want to improve, stop thinking things like: "If I ignore my responsibilities, I won't have any money," or "If I don't discipline my servant, they won't be useful." It's better to starve without stress and fear than to live in wealth with constant worry. And it's better for your servant to be unhelpful than for you to be unhappy.

Start with the small stuff. Did a little oil get spilled or a bit of wine go missing? Tell yourself, "This is the cost of peace and calm; nothing comes for free." And when you call your servant, keep in mind that they might not come when you call, or if they do, they might not do what you want. It's not good for them, and it's really not good for you, to let them have the power to upset you.

13

If you want to get better, be okay with people thinking you're clueless or boring about superficial stuff. Don't try to show off how much you know; and even if others see you as someone important, be cautious about trusting yourself too much. Remember, it's tough to align your desires with what's natural and also focus on external things at the same time. When you're focused on one, you'll inevitably have to let the other slide.

14

If you want your kids, your spouse, and your friends to live forever, you're being unrealistic because you're wishing for control over things that aren't in your power and trying to make what's someone else's yours. Similarly, if you want your employee to be perfect, you're being unrealistic because you're wishing for flaws not to be flaws, but something else. However, if you want to avoid being let down by your desires, that's within your control. So, focus on what you can control. A person's master is someone who can give or take away what that person wants or avoids. So, if you want to be free, don't wish for or avoid anything that depends on others; otherwise, you'll end up being a slave.

15

Think of life like you're at a banquet. If something comes your way, go ahead and take a reasonable amount. If it passes you by, let it go. If it hasn't come to you yet, don't stress about it—just wait patiently. This applies to things like kids, relationships, jobs, and money. If you can do this, one day you'll be worthy of celebrating with the gods. And if you can even let go of the things right in front of you, you'll not only be worthy of celebrating with the gods but also ruling with them. This is how people like Diogenes and Heraclitus became legendary and were seen as almost divine.

16

When you see someone crying because they're upset, maybe because their child has moved away or they've had some trouble in their life, try not to get caught up in what seems like a bad situation. Instead, think about it and be ready to say, "What's really bothering this person isn't the situation itself—because someone else might not be upset by it—but how they're choosing to see it." However, when you're talking to them, don't hesitate to sympathize and, if needed, to sigh along with them. Just be careful not to let it get to you on the inside, too.

17

Remember, you're an actor in a play that the Author decides—if it's a short play, then you're in a short one; if it's a long play, then you're in a long one. If the Author wants you to play a poor person, or someone with a disability, or a leader, or just an ordinary person, make sure you play the role well. Your job is to perform your part well, but choosing the role is up to someone else.

18

If a raven happens to croak in an unlucky way, don't get caught up in appearances. Instead, think to yourself, "This doesn't mean anything bad for me, my body, my stuff, my reputation, my kids, or my wife. Everything can be a good sign if I choose to see it that way. Whatever happens, it's up to me to find the benefit in it."

19

You can be unbeatable if you only get into situations where you have the power to win. So, when you see someone with lots of honors, power, or high status for any reason, be careful not to get caught up in appearances and think they're automatically happy. If true happiness comes from things we can control, then there's no reason to be envious or try to compete. Instead of wanting to be a general, a senator, or a consul, aim to be free; and the only way to do that is to not worry about things beyond your control.

20

Remember, it's not the person who insults or hits you that's really offending you, but how you perceive those actions. So, when someone tries to provoke you, know that it's actually your own perspective that's getting you riled up. First and foremost, try not to get overwhelmed by how things seem. If you can take a moment to pause and breathe, you'll find it easier to stay in control of your emotions.

21

Keep thoughts of death, exile, and other seemingly scary things in your mind every day, especially death; this way, you'll never have lowly thoughts or become overly obsessed with wanting anything.

22

If you're really interested in philosophy, get ready for people to laugh and make fun of you, saying things like, "Oh, look who's suddenly a philosopher now," or "What's with the smug look?" But don't actually act smug. Stick to what you believe is right, as if you've been chosen by a higher power for this path. Remember, if you stay committed, the same people who mocked you at first will eventually respect you. But if you let them get to you, you'll just end up being laughed at even more.

23

If you ever start focusing on external things just to please someone else, know that you've messed up your life plan. So, be happy with being a philosopher in everything you do. If you want others to see you that way too, just see yourself as one, and that'll be enough.

24

Don't let thoughts like these upset you: "I'll be discredited and insignificant everywhere." If discredit is truly bad, you can't be dragged into it by someone else any more than you can be dragged into being dishonorable. Is it really your concern to gain power or get invited to fancy events? Not at all. So, why worry about discredit? And how is it true that you'll be insignificant everywhere when you should focus on being significant in the things you can control, where you can truly make a difference? "But my friends won't get help." What do you mean by "help"? They won't get money from you, and you won't make them Roman citizens. Who said these things are within our control and not someone else's business? And who can give to others what they don't have themselves? "Well, then get those things so we can benefit too." If I can get them while keeping my honor, loyalty, and self-respect, show me how, and I'll do it. But if you want me to give up my true values so you can gain something worthless, think about how unreasonable and foolish that is. Besides, would you rather have money or a loyal and honorable friend? Help me build that character instead of asking me to do things that would make me lose it. But what about my country, you say, won't it suffer because of me? Again, what kind of help are you talking about? It won't have fancy buildings or baths from you? So what? A blacksmith doesn't provide shoes, nor does a shoemaker provide weapons. It's enough if everyone does their own job well. And if you provide another loyal and honorable citizen, wouldn't that be helpful to your country? Yes. So you're not useless to it either. "What role, then," you ask, "will I have in the state?" Whatever role you can have while keeping your loyalty and honor. But if you lose these by trying to be useful, how can you serve your country when you've become untrustworthy and shameless?

25

Is someone else getting more attention than you at a party, or being treated more kindly, or trusted more? If these things are good, you should be happy for them; if they're not, don't be upset that you don't have them. Remember, you can't compete with others for these things without doing what they do to get them. How can someone who doesn't hang around someone's door, doesn't follow them, or doesn't flatter them expect to get the same treatment as someone who does? It's unfair and unrealistic to expect to get these things for free if you're not willing to pay the price they require. How much do lettuces cost? Let's say an obulus. If someone else pays an obulus and gets the lettuces, and you don't pay and go without, don't think they've gained anything over you. They have the lettuces, and you still have your obulus. Similarly, if you haven't been invited to someone's party, it's because you haven't paid the price for an invitation. The price is praise and attention. If it's worth it to you, then pay up. But if you want the benefits without the cost, that's unreasonable and foolish. Do you have nothing in place of the dinner? Actually, you do—you don't have to praise someone you don't want to praise or put up with the rudeness of their servants.