All the Works of Epictetus · 77 of 100

Book III, Chapter 19

1.The first Difference between one of the Vulgar, and a Philosopher, is this: the one says, I am undone, on the Account of my Child, my Brother, my Father: but the other, if ever he be obliged to say, I am undone! reflects, and adds, on Account of myself. For Choice cannot be restrained, or hurt, by any thing to which Choice doth not extend; but only by itself. If therefore we always would incline this Way, and, whenever we are unsuccessful, would lay the Fault on ourselves, and remember, that there is no Cause of Perturbation and Inconstancy, but Principle, I engage we should make some Proficiency. But we set out in a very different Way, from the very Beginning. In Infancy, for Example, if we happen to stumble, our Nurse doth not chide us, but beats the Stone. Why: what Harm hath the Stone done? Was it to move out of its Place, for the Folly of your Child? Again: if we do not find something to eat, when we come out of the Bath, our Governor doth not try to moderate our Appetite, but beats the Cook. Why: did we appoint you Governor of the Cook, Man? No: but of our Child. It is he whom you are to correct and improve. By these Means, even when we are grown up, we appear Children. For an unmusical Person is a Child in Music; an illiterate Person, a Child in Learning; and an untaught one, a Child in Life.