Discourses and Selected Writings

Epictetus

Aug 2008 · Penguin UK

About this ebook

Contains The Discourses/Fragments/Enchiridion

'I must die. But must I die bawling?'

Epictetus, a Greek Stoic and freed slave, ran a thriving philosophy school in Nicopolis in the early second century AD. His animated discussions were celebrated for their rhetorical wizardry and were written down by Arrian, his most famous pupil. The Discourses argue that happiness lies in learning to perceive exactly what is in our power to change and what is not, and in embracing our fate to live in harmony with god and nature. In this personal, practical guide to the ethics of Stoicism and moral self-improvement, Epictetus tackles questions of freedom and imprisonment, illness and fear, family, friendship and love.

Translated and Edited with an Introduction by Robert Dobbin

Ratings and reviews

There is no other book that has jolted me the way Epictetus' Discourses has. His words are a freight train, set to destroy every particle of weakness in the soul. His arguments are ironclad. I've practised Buddhism for many years and the Stoics are kindred spirits of the Dhamma, illustrating that true wisdom is universal. This is among the most powerful and necessary texts to have ever been written.

just started reading this, thanks to pewdiepie book's review and now im loving it.

The best book you can read. Best translation as well.

About the author

Epictetus (c. 55–135 AD) was a teacher and Greco-Roman philosopher. Originally a slave from Hierapolis in Anatolia (modern Turkey), he was owned for a time by a prominent freedman at the court of the emperor Nero. After gaining his freedom he moved to Nicopolis on the Adriatic coast of Greece and opened a school of philosophy there. His informal lectures (the Discourses) were transcribed and published by his student Arrian, who also composed a digest of Epictetus' teaching known as the Manual (or Enchiridion).