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/290

238 would be a Wrestler, consider your Shoulders, your Back, your Thighs: for different Persons are made for different Things. Do you think, that you can act as you do, and be a Philosopher? That you can eat, and drink, and be angry, and discontented, as you are now? You must watch; you must labour; you must get the better of certain Appetites: must quit your Acquaintance; be despised by your Servant; be laughed at by those you meet: come off worse than others, in every thing; in Magistracies; in Honours; in Courts of Judicature. When you have considered all these things round, approach, if you please: if, by parting with them, you have a mind to purchase Apathy, Freedom, and Tranquillity. If not, do not come hither: do not, like Children, be one while a Philosopher, then a Publican, then an Orator, and then one of Cæsar's Officers. These things are not consistent. You must be one Man, either good or bad. You must cultivate either your own ruling Faculty, or Externals; and apply yourself either to things within or without you; that is, be either a Philosopher, or one of the Vulgar .



E who frequently converses with others, either in Discourse, or Entertainments, or in any familiar Way of Living, must necessarily either become like his Companions, or bring them Rh