Encheiridion — Epictetus

Gbe discourses of JBpictetus 181 my poor body, I value greatly the preservation of it entire, though I do not possess it entire. But I can point out to you a free man, that you may no longer seek an example. Diogenes was free. How was he free ?

Not because he was born of free parents, but because he was himself free, because he had cast off all the handles of slavery, and it was not possible for any man to approach him, nor had any man the means of laying hold of him to enslave him. He had everything easily loosed, everything only hanging to him.

If you laid hold of his property, he would have rather let it go and be yours, than he would have followed you for it ; if you had laid hold of his leg, he would have let go his leg ; if of all his body, all his poor body ; his intimates, friends, country, just the same. For he knew from whence he had them, and from whom, and on what conditions.

His true parents indeed, the gods, and his real country he would never have deserted, nor would he have yielded to any man in obedience to them and to their orders, nor would any man have died for his country more readily.

For he was not used to inquire when he should be considered to have done anything on behalf of the whole of things (the universe, or all the world), but he remembered that everything which is done comes from thence and is done on behalf of that county 2i82 Gbe Discourses of Bpictctus and is commanded by him who administers it. Therefore see what Diogenes himself says and writes : " For this reason, he says, " Diogenes, it is in your power to speak both with the King of the Persians and with Archidamus the King of the Lacedaemonians, as you please. Was it because he was born of free parents ?

I suppose all the Athenians and all the Lacedaemonians because they were born of slaves, could not talk with them (these kings) as they wished, but feared and paid court to them. Why then does he say that it is in his power ? Because I do not consider the poor body to be my own, because I want nothing, because law is everything to me, and nothing else is. These were the things which permitted him to be free.

Think of these things, these opinions, these words ; look to these examples, if you would be free, if you desire the thing according to its worth. And what is the wonder if you buy so , great a thing at the price of things so many and so great ?

For the sake of this which is called liberty, some hang themselves, others throw themselves down precipices, and sometimes even whole cities have perished ; and will you not for the sake of the true and unassailable and secure liberty give back to God when he demands them the things which he has given ? Will you not, as Plato says, study not to die