Page:All the works of Epictetus - which are now extant; consisting of his Discourses, preserved by Arrian, in four books, the Enchiridion, and fragments (IA allworksofepicte00epic).pdf/153

RV 101 (Chap. 1.) mon-place Essays as those I am speaking of, he leaves to the Insensible, or to the happy Creatures whom Idleness furnishes with Leisure; or to such as are too weak to regard Consequences. And will you, when you are gone from hence, which the Time now calls for, be fond of showing, and reading, and be ridiculously conceited, of these Things?

Pray see, how I compose Dialogues.

Talk not of that, Man; but rather be able to say; See, how I avoid being disappointed of my Desire: see, how I secure myself against incurring my Aversion. Set Death before me; set Pain, set a Prison, set Ignominy, set Condemnation before me; and you will know me. This is the [proper] Ostentation of a young Man come out from the Schools. Leave the rest to others. Let no one ever hear you utter a Word about them: nor suffer it, if any one commends you for them: but think that you are nobody, and that you know nothing. Appear to know only this, how you may never be disappointed of your Desire; never incur your Aversion. Let others study Causes, Problems, and Syllogisms. Do you study Death, Chains, Torture, Exile : and all these, with