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but by the resolves of the mind。 Place then thy happiness in that
wherein thou art equal to the Gods。
XXXIV
Asked how a man might eat acceptably to the Gods； Epictetus
replied：If when he eats； he can be just； cheerful； equable；
temperate； and orderly； can he not thus eat acceptably to the
Gods？ But when you call for warm water； and your slave does not
answer； or when he answers brings it lukewarm； or is not even
found to be in the house at all； then not to be vexed nor burst
with anger； is not that acceptable to the Gods？
〃But how can one endure such people？〃
Slave； will you not endure your own brother； that has God to
his forefather； even as a son sprung from the same stock； and of
the same high descent as yourself？ And if you are stationed in a
high position； are you therefor forthwith set up for a tyrant？
Remember who you are； and whom you rule； that they are by nature
your kinsmen； your brothers； the offspring of God。
〃But I paid a price for them； not they for me。〃
Do you see whither you are lookingdown to the earth； to
the pit； to those despicable laws of the dead？ But to the laws of
the Gods you do not look。
XXXV
When we are invited to a banquet； we take what is set before
us； and were one to call upon his host to set fish upon the table
or sweet things； he would be deemed absurd。 Yet in a word； we ask
the Gods for what they do not give； and that； although they have
given us so many things！
XXXVI
Asked how a man might convince himself that every single act
of his was under the eye of God； Epictetus answered：
〃Do you not hold that things on earth and things in heaven
are continuous and in unison with each other？〃
〃I do；〃 was the reply。
〃Else how should the trees so regularly； as though by God's
command； at His bidding flower； at His bidding send forth shoots；
bear fruit and ripen it； at His bidding let it fall and shed
their leaves； and folded up upon themselves lie in quietness and
rest？ How else； as the Moon waxes and wanes； as the Sun
approaches and recedes； can it be that such vicissitude and
alternation is seen in earthly things？
〃If then all things that grow； nay； our own bodies； are thus
bound up with the whole； is not this still truer of our souls？
And if our souls are bound up and in contact with God； as being
very parts and fragments plucked from Himself； shall He not feel
every movement of theirs as though it were His own； and belonging
to His own nature？〃
XXXVII
〃But；〃 you say； 〃I cannot comprehend all this at once。〃
〃Why； who told you that your powers were equal to God's？〃
Yet God hath placed by the side of each a man's own Guardian
Spirit； who is charged to watch over hima Guardian who sleeps
not nor is deceived。 For to what better or more watchful Guardian
could He have committed wach of us？ So when you have shut the
doors and made a darkness within； remember never to say that you
are alone； for you are not alone； but God is within； and your
Guardian Spirit； and what light do they need to behold what you
do？ To this God you also should have sworn allegiance； even as
soliders unto Caesar。 They； when their service is hired； swear to
hold the life of Caesar dearer than all else： and will you not
swear your oath； that are deemed worthy of so many and great
gifts？ And will you not keep your oath when you have sworn it？
And what oath will you swear？ Never to disobey； never to arraign
or murmur at aught that comes to you from His hand： never
unwillingly to do or suffer aught that necessity lays upon you。
〃Is this oath like theirs？〃
They swear to hold no other dearer than Caesar： you； to hold
our true selves dearer than all else beside。
XXXVIII
〃How shall my brother cease to be wroth with me？〃
Bring him to me； and I will tell him。 But to thee I have
nothing to say about his anger。
XXXIX
When one took counsel of Epictetus； saying； 〃What I seek is
this； how even though my brother be not reconciled to me； I may
still remain as Nature would have me to be；〃 he replied： 〃All
great things are slow of growth； nay； this is true even of a
grape or of a fig。 If then you say to me now； I desire a fig； I
shall answer； It needs time： wait till it first flower； then cast
its blossom； then ripen。 Whereas then the fruit of the fig…tree
reaches not maturity suddenly nor yet in a single hour； do you
nevertheless desire so quickly； and easily to reap the fruit of
the mind of man？ Nay； expect it not； even though I bade you！〃
XL
Epaphroditus had a shoemaker whom he sold as being good…for…nothing。
This fellow； by some accident； was afterwards
purchased by one of Caesar's men； and became a shoemaker to
Caesar。 You should have seen what respect Epaphroditus paid him
then。 〃How does the good Felicion？ Kindly let me know！〃 And if
any of us inquired； 〃What is Epaphroditus doing？〃 the answer was；
〃He is consulting about so and so with Felicion。〃 Had he not
sold him as good…for…nothing？ Who had in a trice converted him
into a wiseacre？
This is what comes of holding of importance anything but the
things that depend on the Will。
XLI
What you shun enduring yourself； attempt not to impose on
others。 You shun slavery beware of enslaving others！ If you can
endure to do that； one would thing you had been once upon a time
a slave yourself。 For Vice has nothing in common with virtue； nor
Freedom with slavery。
XLII
Has a man been raised to tribuneship？ Every one that he
meets congratulates him。 One kisses him on the eyes； another on
the neck； while the slaves kiss his hands。 He goes home to find
torches burning； he ascends to the Capitol to sacrifice。 Who
ever sacrificed for having had right desires； for having
conceived such inclinations as Nature would have him？ In truth we
thank the Gods for that wherein we place our happiness。
XLIII
A man was talking to me to…day about the priesthood of
Augustus。 I said to him； 〃Let the thing go； my good Sir； you will
spend a good deal to no purpose。〃
〃Well； but my name will be inserted in all documents and
contracts。〃
〃Will you be standing there to tell those that read them；
That is my name written there？ And even if you could now be there
in every case； what will you do when you are dead？〃
〃At all events my name will remain。〃
〃Inscribe it on a stone and it will remain just as well。 And
think； beyond Nicopolis what memory of you will there be？〃
〃But I shall have a golden wreath to wear。〃
〃If you must have a wreath； get a wreath of roses and put it
on； you will look more elegant！〃
XLIV
Above all； remember that the door stands open。 Be not more
fearful than children； but as they； when they weary of the game；
cry； 〃I will play no more；〃 even so； when thou art in the