A word through the Handbook
ἡγεμονικόν
Ruling mind
hēgemonikon
The governing faculty that receives impressions and gives or withholds assent. It is the inner seat of judgment from which deliberate action proceeds.
2 verified occurrences
Epictetus, Handbook 29.7Read in context Greek occurrenceταῦτα ἐπίσκεψαι. εἰ θέλεις ἀντικαταλλάξασθαι τούτων ἀπάθειαν, ἐλευθερίαν, ἀταραξίαν· εἰ δὲ μή, μὴ προσάγαγε. μὴ ὡς τὰ παιδία νῦν φιλόσοφος, ὕστερον δὲ τελώνης, εἶτα ῥήτωρ, εἶτα ἐπίτροπος Καίσαρος. ταῦτα οὐ συμφωνεῖ. ἕνα σε δεῖ ἄνθρωπον ἢ ἀγαθὸν ἢ κακὸν εἶναι· ἢ τὸ ἡγεμονικόν σε δεῖ ἐξεργάζεσθαι τὸ σαυτοῦ ἢ τὸ ἐκτὸς ἢ περὶ τὰ ἔσω φιλοτεχνεῖν ἢ περὶ τὰ ἔξω· τοῦτ’ ἔστιν ἢ φιλοσόφου τάξιν ἐπέχειν ἢ ἰδιώτου.
English renderingThink all this over – and decide whether you want to trade it for equanimity, freedom, and tranquility. If not, don’t come near it. Don’t be like a child: now a philosopher, later a tax collector, then an orator, then one of Caesar’s administrators. These don’t go together. You must be one person, good or bad. You must cultivate either your own ruling mind or externals – apply your craft either to what is inside or to what is outside. That is: hold the position of a philosopher, or of a layman.
Epictetus, Handbook 38Read in context Greek occurrenceἐν τῷ περιπατεῖν καθάπερ προσέχεις, μὴ ἐπιβῇς ἥλῳ ἢ στρέψῃς τὸν πόδα σου, οὕτω πρόσεχε, μὴ καὶ τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν βλάψῃς τὸ σεαυτοῦ. καὶ τοῦτο ἐὰν ἐφ’ ἑκάστου ἔργου παραφυλάσσωμεν, ἀσφαλέστερον ἁψόμεθα τοῦ ἔργου.
English renderingJust as you watch, when walking, not to step on a nail or twist your ankle, watch in the same way not to harm your own ruling mind. If we keep this guard in every undertaking, we will take up the work more securely.