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/462

410 himself: he transfers his Aversion to those Things only, which thwart the proper Use of our own Faculty of Choice: the Exertion of his active Powers towards any thing is very gentle: if he appears stupid, or ignorant, he doth not care; and, in a word, he watches himself as an Enemy, and one in Ambush.

any one shows himself vain, on being able to understand and interpret the Works of Chrysippus, say to yourself, "Unless Chrysippus had written obscurely, this Person would have had no Subject for his Vanity. But what do I desire? To understand Nature, and follow her. I ask then, who interprets her; and, finding Chrysippus doth, I have Recourse to him. I do not understand his Writings. I seek therefore one to interpret them." So far there is nothing to value myself upon. And when I find an Interpreter, what remains is, to make use of his Instructions. This alone is the valuable Thing. But, if I admire nothing but merely the Interpretation, what do I become more than a Grammarian, instead of a Philosopher? Except, indeed, that, instead of Homer, I interpret Chrysippus. When any one therefore desires me to read Chrysippus to him, I rather blush, when I cannot show my Actions agreeable, and consonant to his Discourse.

Rules you have deliberately proposed to yourself [for the Conduct of Life,] abide by them, as so many Laws, and as if you would be guilty of Impiety in transgressing any of them: and do not regard what any one says of you; for this, after all, is no Concern of yours. How long then will you defer to think yourself worthy of the noblest Improvements, and, in no Instance, to transgress the Distinctions of Reason? You have received the Philosophic Theorems, with which you Rh