Discourses, Books 3-4. Fragments. the Encheiridion

EpictetuswasacrippledGreekslaveofPhrygiaduringNero\'sreign(54?68CE)whoheardlecturesbytheStoicMusoniusbeforehewasfreed.ExpelledwithotherphilosophersbytheemperorDomitianin89or92hesettledpermanentlyinNicopolisinEpirus.There,inaschoolwhichhecalled\'healingplaceforsicksouls\',hetaughtapracticalphilosophy,detailsofwhichwererecordedbyArrian,astudentofhis,andsurviveinfourbooksofDiscoursesandasmallerEncheiridion,ahandbookwhichgivesbrieflythechiefdoctrinesoftheDiscourses.HeapparentlylivedintothereignofHadrian(117?138CE).EpictetuswasateacherofStoicethics,broadandfirminmethod,sublimeinthought,andnowhumorous,nowsadorsevereinspirit.Howshouldoneliverighteously?Ourgod-givenwillisourparamountpossession,andwemustnotcovetothers\'.Wemustnotresistfortune.Manispartofasystem;humansarereasoningbeings(infeeblebodies)andmustconformtogod\'smindandthewillofnature.Epictetuspresentsusalsowithapungentpictureoftheperfect(Stoic)man.TheLoebClassicalLibraryeditionofEpictetusisintwovolumes.,