Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Art of Living
    The Art of Living
    The Art of Living
    Ebook63 pages43 minutes

    The Art of Living

    By Epictetus

    4/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    No writings of Epictetus himself are really known. His discourses were transcribed and compiled by his pupil Arrian (author of the Anabasis Alexandri). The main work is The Discourses, four books of which have been preserved (out of an original eight). Arrian also compiled a popular digest, entitled the Enchiridion, or Handbook. In a preface to the Discourses, addressed to Lucius Gellius, Arrian states that "whatever I heard him say I used to write down, word for word, as best I could, endeavouring to preserve it as a memorial, for my own future use, of his way of thinking and the frankness of his speech."
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWilder Publications, Inc.
    Release dateJul 12, 2013
    ISBN9781627551991
    The Art of Living
    Author

    Epictetus

    Epictetus (circa 55-135 ce) taught in Rome until the year 94 ce, when Emperor Domitian banished philosophers from the city. In exile, he established a school of philosophy where his distinguished students included Marcus Aurelius, author of Meditations. Some 1,863 years after Epictetus's death, Tom Wolfe revived his philosophy in the bestselling novel A Man in Full.

    Read more from Epictetus

    Related to The Art of Living

    Related ebooks

    Philosophy For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      ‘Inject That Stoicism Into My Veins!’: 10 Tools Of Ancient Philosophy That Improved My Life

      Sep 19, 2022

      It was fortuitous that I started getting interested in Stoicism around 2018 – because by the time the pandemic came around, I really needed it. “Cometh the hour, cometh the woman!” I said, Epietcus’s Enchiridion in hand, as the borders shut in March

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Joys of Being a Stoic

      Nov 4, 2020

      In September, a writer for HBO’s Watchmen series, Cord Jefferson, was awarded an Emmy. I enjoyed the show’s first season, a sequel to arguably the best movie (and graphic novel) about superhero vigilantism. The plot involves the protagonists combatti

      9 min read

    • Article

      How To Live (like A Stoic)

      Jan 23, 2018

      How To Live (like A Stoic)
      4 min read

    • Article

      Thinking Makes It So: Ward Farnsworth Reframes the Stoics with Wit and Insight

      Aug 30, 2018

      Seneca’s suicide, at the order of the emperor Nero, presents a macabre scene. Previously adviser to the fickle, impetuous, paranoid, thin-skinned emperor, Seneca was erroneously implicated in an assassination plot and was ordered to take his own life

      9 min read

    • Article

      Negativity Detox

      Dec 28, 2023

      Negativity Detox
      6 min read

    • Article

      Let It Go

      Mar 17, 2020

      Let It Go
      4 min read

    • Article

      Your HOROSCOPE

      Feb 21, 2020

      Your HOROSCOPE
      2 min read

    • Article

      Lessons In Love

      Mar 29, 2023

      Lessons In Love
      4 min read

    • Article

      Anger Management

      Jul 29, 2022

      Anger Management
      4 min read

    • Article

      Feel The Force

      Feb 18, 2020

      Feel The Force
      4 min read

    • Article

      ¡hola Papi!

      Jul 23, 2019

      ¡hola Papi!
      2 min read

    • Article

      Wally's WORLD

      Feb 16, 2021

      Wally's WORLD
      3 min read

    • Article

      Ask Dr Louise

      Aug 27, 2021

      Write to Dr Louise, PO Box 39410, Moreletapark 0044, or email info@drlouise.co.za. Q I feel as if this pandemic will never come to an end. Every time we think it’s getting better and that lockdown rules are more relaxed, something happens and we’re

      3 min read

    • Article

      Lessons In Love

      Jun 21, 2023

      Lessons In Love
      4 min read

    • Article

      Horoscope

      Feb 4, 2022

      Horoscope
      2 min read

    • Article

      Horoscope

      Apr 15, 2021

      Let’s face it, the entire world has been through a lot recently. But now is your time to start all over again. So, where do you need to do this and are you willing to make the effort? If you’ve found the challenges of the past year hard to bear, just

      3 min read

    • Article

      Health Intelligence

      Jun 15, 2020

      Health Intelligence
      2 min read

    • Article

      All Change!

      May 12, 2020

      All Change!
      3 min read

    • Article

      Stiching With Julian

      May 17, 2022

      Stiching With Julian
      1 min read

    • Article

      The Happiness Explorer

      Dec 29, 2022

      The Happiness Explorer
      2 min read

    • Article

      Protection Starts Small

      Jan 15, 2021

      Protecting our children from child abuse is no longer an issue for over-fives. We need to give our children as many skills as we can to reduce their chances of abuse –from the time they are born. Here are some suggestions. Infants cannot speak to tel

      3 min read

    • Article

      Sweet HARMONY

      Aug 4, 2020

      Sweet HARMONY
      4 min read

    • Article

      HOW sexy TO FEEL

      Apr 30, 2020

      HOW sexy TO FEEL
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Art of Living

    4/5

    437 ratings12 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Incredible philosophy.
    • 5/5
      My first exposure to the stoic idea of philosophy and it was very enjoyable. Clear and rational rules for a way to a more accomplished life. Learning to accept your feelings and taking responsibility for them can diminish the impact others have on you and your ability to be happy was a huge idea.
    • 5/5
      Enchiridion reads like the Proverbs and the Hadith. I am finding much in Stoicism that aligns with many of my own ideas. I am not sure whether this is from aspects of training and education that were implicitly Stoic or not. Indeed, I cannot recall any explicitly Stoic teachings in my formal education. Long's translations are interesting and draw upon previous translations. The notes are helpful, especially where all translators are unable to comprehend the precise meaning of certain of Epictetus's [reading Stephen King converted me to the s's rather than the s' plural] "fragments". This is a quick read, and worth further reflection.
    • 1/5
      Not everything that survived from antiquity is gold. This is a terrible book, a 1st century self-help book equivalent with plenty of profound sounding prescriptions without much argumentation behind them. When it does provide the reasoning it's logical fallacies galore. Most of it sounds like rambling of a belligerent drunkard. I'll save you the chore of slogging through this: desire only what you have and ignore anything that you can't control. Also worship Zeus.
    • 4/5
      A little something to read on Thanksgiving. Maybe after this, I'll leaf through Seneca, then watch Charlie Brown or something.

      One of the big three stoics, with the authors being Marcus Aurelius and Seneca. Epictetus recieved no formal schooling, and was a slave for most of his life. No self-pity. Instead, independence, fearlessness, and acceptance of death and suffering. Self-rule and self-improvement. Forgiveness, acceptance, and understanding.

      Almost resembles some forms of Buddhism. In many ways, both are fatalistic, but this is not necessarily pessimism. Instead, there is peace.

      I typically find most 'self-help' books to be injurious, maybe even dangerous in their mindless positivity. If it is not too imperious, I would recommend the Stoics and their friends instead, for their mindful tranquility.
    • 3/5
      Author succeeds in translating this old Greek philosopher and his teachings into modern times. Short chapters for mediation among hustle and bustle of today's hectic life
    • 5/5
      An excellent introduction to this Stoic philosopher. While none of the text is anything he said in life, each subject discussed comes from what teachings we have of him and what he would likely have said. It's amazing how timeless these words can become, speaking to some of the eternal aspects of the human condition.Philosophy should not be something highbrow and removed from understanding by the general populace. Epictetus can bring it back down to earth.
    • 3/5
      Stoics are weird. And I'm kinda surprised so many people reviewed this book as some amazing bit of timeless philosophy.The Handbook is just that, a handbook. An ancient Roman self-help book from the Stoic perspective. Some of the the advice still holds true, things like:- don't doddle and miss your boat, a literal boat, not a figurative one- know that there are things in your power and things beyond your power, don't confuse them- do be disciplined in your undertakings and don't procrastinateGood stuff right? Unfortunately that is pretty much all of the advice he gives that still holds true. The rest doesn't make sense unless you live in ancient Rome and the world is innately perfect and harmonious and magical even when shitty things happen. This seems to be the gaping hole in Stoic philosophy, the conviction that the universe was perfect and harmonious despite evidence to the contrary. When shitty things happen to you, according to the Stoics, they aren't really shitty, they just seem shitty because you have let yourself become out of sync with the universe. Your wife and child died? Well of course they did! That's the nature of the universe, you should have expected it and accepted it. You're a slave? Well that's just how it is, you can't very well expect to be free can you? Just try to get used to it.This is the backbone of Epictetus' advice, lowering your expectations so that they coincide with the course your life is probably going to take anyway. No one ever rocked the boat or overcame great odds based on Stoic philosophy. Throw in some quick advice about how to respond to omens and when you should and shouldn't see a fortune teller and that's about it. Well, that and advising you to be as boring as possible, not hanging out with non philosophers, not talking at all if you can help it, not swearing but frowning to show your disapproval when others do and certainly not having sex if you can avoid it. Stoics sure tried their darnedest to live boring, unremarkable lives. But ol' Epictetus wasn't a complete twat wet blanket. He understood that there are somethings you just can't live without."Take what has to do with the body to the point of bare need, such as food, drink, clothing, house, household slaves, and cut out everything that is for reputation and luxury."Timeless, no?Ultimately this is a quick, fairly amusing read, but I certainly wouldn't take it too seriously.
    • 2/5
      I have three bones to pick with Sharon Lebell's "new interpretation" of Epictetus' Enchiridion. (1) It's over-elaborate; the original is pithy, directness and leanness are not only stylistically distinctive, but underscore the "stoical" message. (2) It's unnecessarily idiomatic: expressions like "death is no big deal," and "don't kid yourself" tend to further trivialize sentiments that, to a modern audience, already might appear simplistic (deceptively so, though, in my opinion.) (3) It's wrong. Here's a contrast between Lebell's version and the translation by George Long, available on Project Gutenberg. Lebell: "Do your best to reign in your desire. For if you desire something that isn't within your own control, disappointment will surely follow; meanwhile, you will be neglecting the very things that are within your control that are worthy of desire. Of course, there are times when for practical reasons you must go after one thing or shun another, but do so with grace, finesse, and flexibility." Long: "For if you desire anything which is not in our power, you must be unfortunate; but of the things in our power, and which it would be good to desire, nothing yet is before you. But employ only the power of moving towards an object and retiring from it; and these powers indeed only slightly and with exceptions and with remission." Different, wouldn't you say?
    • 5/5
      I'm so glad I found this book. (10/10)
    • 5/5
      Marvelous translation. Utterly relevant, and a good companion book to stow into the backpack, briefcase or laptop bag for an occasional dip or deep dive as time permits.
    • 4/5
      I'm certainly no philosopher but this is a great little book; well written with a well-thought out, attractive layout

    Book preview

    The Art of Living - Epictetus

    The Art of Living

    by Epictetus

    SMK Books

    Copyright © 2013 by SMK Books

    All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

    SMK Books eBook edition June 2013

    Manufactured in the United States of America

    10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1

    ISBN 978-1627551991

    Table of Contents

    1.

    2.

    3.

    4.

    5.

    6.

    7.

    8.

    9.

    10.

    11.

    12.

    13.

    14.

    15.

    16.

    17.

    18.

    19.

    20.

    21.

    22.

    23.

    24.

    25.

    26.

    27.

    28.

    29.

    30.

    31.

    32.

    33.

    34.

    35.

    36.

    37.

    38.

    39.

    40.

    41.

    42.

    43.

    44.

    45.

    46.

    47.

    48.

    49.

    50.

    51.

    52.

    1.

    Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.

    The things in our control are by nature free, unrestrained, unhindered; but those not in our control are weak, slavish, restrained, belonging to others. Remember, then, that if you suppose that things which are slavish by nature are also free, and that what belongs to others is your own, then you will be hindered. You will lament, you will be disturbed, and you will find fault both with gods and men. But if you suppose that only to be your own which is your own, and what belongs to others such as it really is, then no one will ever compel you or restrain you. Further, you will find fault with no one or accuse no one. You will do nothing against your will. No one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you not be harmed.

    Aiming therefore at such great things, remember that you must not allow yourself to be carried, even with a slight tendency, towards the attainment of lesser things. Instead, you must entirely quit some things and for the present postpone the rest. But if you would both have these great things, along with power and riches, then you will

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1