BDeBooks
The Enchiridion by Epictetus, book cover
World Classics PDF EPUB Audio

The Enchiridion

by Epictetus

Downloads
100+
Pages
49
Download

Listen to The Enchiridion Audiobook Free

Read by John Pederson · 47 min · 5 parts

  1. Chapters 1-10

    8:20

  2. Chapters 11-20

    6:55

  3. Chapters 21-30

    10:48

  4. Chapters 31-40

    10:48

  5. Chapters 41-53

    10:15

The Enchiridion (1916) is a public domain work.

The audio edition streams in the page. There is no audio file to download.

Browse all free audiobooks

About this book

Compiled by his student, this short handbook distills the practical wisdom of the former slave turned Stoic teacher Epictetus into a series of clear, bracing precepts for living well. Its core teaching (that we should focus only on what is within our control and accept with equanimity what is not) has offered comfort and strength to readers from Roman emperors to modern seekers. Concise, memorable, and immediately useful, the Enchiridion is one of the most influential works of practical philosophy ever written. A pocket guide to resilience and inner freedom, it remains a cornerstone of Stoic thought and self-mastery.

From the opening pages

There are things which are within our power, and there are things which are beyond our power. Within our power are opinion, aim, desire, aversion, and, in one word, whatever affairs are our own. Beyond our power are body, property, reputation, office, and, in one word, whatever are not properly our own affairs.

Now the things within our power are by nature free, unrestricted, unhindered; but those beyond our power are weak, dependent, restricted, alien. Remember, then, that if you attribute freedom to things by nature dependent and take what belongs to others for your own, you will be hindered, you will lament, you will be disturbed, you will find fault both with gods and men. But if you take for your own only that which is your own and view what belongs to others just as it really is, then no one will ever compel you, no one will restrict you; you will find fault with no one, you will accuse no one, you will do nothing against your will; no one will hurt you, you will not have an enemy, nor will you suffer any harm.

Aiming, therefore, at such great things, remember that you must not allow yourself any inclination, however slight, toward the attainment of the others; but that you must entirely quit some of them, and for the present postpone the rest. But if you would have these, and possess power and wealth likewise, you may miss the latter in seeking the former; and you will certainly fail of that by which alone happiness and freedom are procured.

Seek at once, therefore, to be able to say to every unpleasing semblance, “You are but a semblance and by no means the real thing.” And then examine it by those rules which you have; and first and chiefly by this: whether it concerns the things which are within our own power or those which are not; and if it concerns anything beyond our power, be prepared to say that it is nothing to you.

Contents

About the author

Epictetus - BDeBooks
Epictetus

Was born into slavery in Phrygia, worked in Rome for a secretary of Nero, was lamed for life, and was eventually freed and exiled along with every other philosopher when Domitian expelled them. He wrote nothing. The Discourses and the shorter Enchiridion were taken down by his student Arrian, which is the same route by which Socrates survives.

More by Epictetus

See all 7 books

More from this genre

See all

Reviews and discussion

No ratings yet. Be the first reader to rate this book.

Rate this book

Pick a star, then sign in. Only readers who confirmed their email can rate.

No comments yet. Share a thought, a question or a favourite passage.

Copyright concern? Read our DMCA policy

Read or download

Public domain book This work is in the public domain and free of copyright. Anyone may read, download and share it.

No download needed. Text reader: adjustable size, font and theme.
  • EPUB 76 KB Best for iPhone, Android, Kobo and tablets
  • KINDLE Send to Kindle Kindle devices and the Kindle app. Uses the same EPUB file. Send
    1. Download the EPUB file to this device.
    2. Open Amazon's Send to Kindle page, sign in, and add the file. Open Send to Kindle (opens in a new tab)

    On a phone: open the downloaded EPUB and share it to the Kindle app.

    You can also email the file to your Kindle address (it ends in @kindle.com) from an email address you approved in your Amazon account.

  • PDF 454 KB Best for computers, laptops and printing

Downloads start right away. How to open EPUB on your phone

Book facts

Author
Epictetus
Reading time
About 50 minutes
Pages
49
Language
English
Formats
PDF, EPUB, Read online, Audiobook
Audio read by
John Pederson