EPICTETUS’ DISCOURSES, PART I. . .

Now that you, gentle reader, have some sense of who Epictetus was I will, every once in a while, offer you quotations from his Discourses.  Epictetus’ begins with the topic: Concerning what is in our power and what is not.  He writes:

In general you will find no art or faculty that can analyze itself, therefore none that can approve or disapprove of itself.  The art of grammar is restricted to analyzing and commenting on literature. . .Now if you are writing to a friend, the art of grammar will help you decide what words to use; but it will not tell you whether it is a good idea to write to your friend in the first place. . .

So, what can? . . .the faculty of reason.  Reason is unique among the faculties assigned to us in being able to evaluate itself — what it is, what it is capable of, how valuable it is — in addition to passing judgment on others.

What decides whether a sum of money is good?  The money is not going to tell you; it must be the faculty that makes use of such impressions — reason.

. . .the gods have given us the best and most efficacious gift: the ability to make good use of impressions. . .

. . .what does Zeus say?  ‘Epictetus, if it were possible I would have made your little body and possessions both free and unrestricted.  As it is, though, make no mistake: this body does not belong to you, it is only cunningly constructed clay.  And since I could not make the body yours, I have given you a portion of myself instead, the power of positive and negative impulse, of desire and aversion — the power, in other words, of making good use of impressions.  If you take care of it and identify with it, you will never be blocked or frustrated; you won’t have to complain, and never will need to blame or flatter anyone.  Is that good enough to satisfy you?’