The Handbook of Epictetus
Handbook 12.1
Translated by Clint Miller
English
If you want to make progress, drop this kind of reasoning: “If I neglect my affairs, I’ll have nothing to live on.” “If I don’t punish my slave, he’ll turn out badly.” Better to die of hunger, free of grief and free of fear, than to live in plenty and be disturbed. Better for your slave to be bad than for you to be miserable.
Greek
εἰ προκόψαι θέλεις, ἄφες τοὺς τοιούτους ἐπιλογισμούς. «ἐὰν ἀμελήσω τᾶν ἐμῶν, οὐχ ἕξω διατροφάς·» «ἐὰν μὴ κολάσω τὸν παῖδα, πονηρὸς ἔσται.» κρεῖσσον γὰρ λιμῷ ἀποθανεῖν ἄλυπον καὶ ἄφοβον γενόμενον ἢ ζῆν ἐν ἀφθόνοις ταρασσόμενον. κρεῖττον δὲ τὸν παῖδα κακὸν εἶναι ἢ σὲ κακοδαίμονα.
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