Chapter XIII Of Anxiety. When I see any one anxious, I say, what does this man mean? Unless he wanted something or other, not in his own power, how could he still be anxious? A musician, for instance, feels no anxiety, while he is singing by himself, but when he appears upon the stage he does; even if his voice

Chapter XIV Concerning Naso. When a certain Roman came to him with his son, and had heard one lesson, — “This,” said Epictetus , “is the method of teaching”; and ceased. When the other desired him to go on, he answered, Every art seems tedious, when it is delivered to a person ignorant and unskilful in it. The things performed

Chapter XV Concerning those who obstinately persist in whatever they have determined. Some, when they hear such discourses as these, “That we ought to be steadfast; that the will is by nature free and unconstrained; and that all else is liable to restraint, compulsion, slavery, and tyranny,” imagine that they must remain immutably fixed to everything which they have determined.

Chapter XVI That we do not study to make use of the established principles concerning good and evil. Where lies good? In the will. Where evil? In the will! Where neither good nor evil? In things inevitable! What then? Does any one of us remember these lessons out of the schools? Does any one of us study how to answer

Chapter XVII How to apply general principles to particular cases. What is the first business of one who studies philosophy? To part with self-conceit. For |t is impossible for anyone to begin to learn what he thinks that he already knows. We all go to the philosophers, talking at random upon negative and positive duties; good and evil; fair and

Chapter XVIII How the semblances of things are to be combated. Every habit and faculty is preserved and increased by correspondent actions; as the habit of walking, by walking; of running, by running. If you would be a reader, read; if a writer, write. But if you do not read for a month together, but do something else; you will

Chapter XIX Concerning those who embrace philosophy only in words. The science of “ the ruling argument ” appears to have its rise from hence. Of the following propositions, any two imply a contradiction to the third. They are these. “That everything past is necessarily true”; “That an impossibility is not, the consequence of a possibility”; and, “That something is

Chapter XX Concerning the Epicureans and Academics. Things true and evident must, of necessity, be recognized even by those who would contradict them. And perhaps one of the strongest proofs that there is such a thing as evidence, is the necessity which compels even those who contradict it to make use of it. If a person, for instance, should deny

Chapter XXI Of Inconsistency. There are some things which men confess with ease; and others with difficulty. No one, for instance, will confess himself a fool, or a blockhead; but, on the contrary, you will hear every one say, “I wish my fortune were in proportion to my abilities.” But they easily confess themselves fearful, and say, “I am somewhat