Epictetus

The Enchiridion

Philosophy and Wisdom

Cover of The Enchiridion

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Language
English
First published
1877
Reading time
36 minutes
Chapters
52 chapters
Translator
George Long (1800–1879)

About this book

A pocket handbook of Stoic philosophy: fifty-two short chapters that Arrian drew from the teaching of his master Epictetus, a former slave who became one of the most respected teachers of the Roman world.

It opens with a single distinction, between the things that are in our power and the things that are not, and shows how much calmer life becomes when we stop fighting over the second kind. This is George Long's plain, exact translation of 1877. It takes about an hour to read, and many readers return to it for years.

Original work: Compiled in Greek by Arrian, early 2nd century AD

Of things some are in our power, and others are not. In our power are opinion ([Greek: hupolaepsis]), movement towards a thing ([Greek: hormae]), desire, aversion ([Greek: echchlisis]), turning from a thing; and in a word, whatever are our acts. Not in our…

Chapter I.

About this edition

  • Source

    Project Gutenberg (eBook #10661)

    Text version

    George Long's translation (first published 1877), from Project Gutenberg eBook #10661, A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus with the Encheiridion (updated 28 October 2024), downloaded 7 November 2026. Only the Encheiridion was imported: the title page, the contents, Long's biographical note on Epictetus and the selected discourses were not. Long's 52 chapters are unchanged, with his Greek words in brackets.

  • License

    Public domain

    Copyright status last verified: 9 November 2026

  • Category

    Philosophy and Wisdom

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Chapters

52 chapters