Epictetus – Excerpts from Enchiridion (Key Concepts)

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from Epictetus' Enchiridion excerpts (control vs. externals, desire/aversion, equanimity, perception, and the proficient’s discipline).

Things in our control

Opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and our own actions.

Things not in our control

Body, property, reputation, command, and anything not produced by our own actions.

Freedom vs. slavery (control-based)

What we control is free; what we don’t control is weak, slavish, restrained, and belongs to others.

True ownership

Only what is truly ours is ours; what belongs to others is not under our control.

Not-in-our-control as nothing to you

If a matter concerns something not in our control, say it is nothing to you.

Desire and aversion

Desire promises attainment; aversion promises avoidance.

Disappointment and wretchedness

Failing to obtain what you desire leads to disappointment; incurring what you avers to leads to wretchedness.

Aversion limited to controllable things

Limit aversion to things contrary to the natural use of your faculties (i.e., things you can control).

Suppress desire for externals

Totally suppress desire for things not in your control; desiring them leads to disappointment.

Pursuit and avoidance

Use appropriate actions of pursuit and avoidance, lightly and with gentleness and reservation.

Delighting in general nature

Remind yourself of the general nature of objects you love (e.g., ceramic cups in general) to avoid disturbance if they break.

Kisses and mortality

If you kiss a child or spouse, remind yourself you kiss something human; you won’t be disturbed if they die.

Action’s nature and conformity to nature

Before acting, picture the typical outcomes and keep your mind in a state conformable to nature.

Not demanding external outcomes

Don’t demand that things happen as you wish; wish that they happen as they do.

Sickness and lameness as hindrances

Sickness hinders the body but not your ability to choose.

Using accidents to practice virtue

With every accident, identify the virtue you can exercise: self-restraint, fortitude, or patience.

Return, not loss

Never say you have lost something; say it has been returned.

Little losses and equanimity

Accept minor losses (oil spilled, wine stolen) as the price of equanimity.

Be thought foolish about externals

Be content to be thought foolish regarding external things; distrust yourself regarding externals.

Desire for immortality of family is foolish

Wishing your family or others to live forever is foolish; focus on what you can control.

Freedom equals self-rule

Freedom means wishing nothing that depends on others; master your own desires.

Dinner-party analogy

Live like at a dinner: take what is offered with moderation, don’t chase what passes, and be worthy of the gods’ feasts.

Judgment vs. accident

Not the accident that distresses a person, but the judgment they make about it.

Two handles

Everything has two handles: a carryable handle and a non-carryable one; choose the former that respects relationships (e.g., brother).

Vulgar vs. philosopher

Vulgar expects benefit or harm from externals; the philosopher expects all harm/benefit from himself.

Proficient’s discipline

A proficient censors no one, praises no one, blames no one, accuses no one; if hindered, blames himself; if praised, laughs; if censured, makes no defense.

Self-control and nature

The proficient suppresses all desire and transfers aversion to obstacles to the proper use of our own faculty; exertion is gentle.