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The Manual: A Philosopher’s Guide to Life

author: Epictetus (2017)
series: Stoic Philosophy #1
date added: 2019-09-28
date read: 2019-09-24
pages: 66
author: gender:male, origin:greek
genre: nonfiction
themes: personal-development, philosophy
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Cover of The Manual: A Philosopher's Guide to Life.

I had a couple of stressful weeks, with both positive and negative experiences with wonderful people. When I start losing my equilibrium (ok, no, when I have irrevocably lost my equilibrium), I sometimes go back and read The Manual, a very short, 50-pages-at-most read of the Stoic principles by Epictetus.

I don’t agree with some parts of Stoic philosophy, mostly regarding the natural order of things and how people connect to one another, but boy are they ever good at reminding you that you have a sphere of influence, and attaching yourself too hard to things you can’t control leads to suffering. The consequences can be disputed, but in any case this book is short, insightful, and can provide a calming influence in just a short evening read.

Quotes

There are things that are within our power, and things that fall outside our power. Within our power are our own opinions, aims, desires, dislikes—in sum, our own thoughts and actions.
If you want not just peace and contentment, but power and wealth too, you may forfeit the former in seeking the latter, and will lose your freedom and happiness along the way.

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If you are praised by others, be skeptical of yourself. For it it is no easy feat to hold onto your inner harmony while collecting accolades. When grasping for one, you are likely to drop the other.

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If someone tried to take control of your body and make you a slave, you would fight for freedom. Yet how easily you hand over your mind to anyone who insults you. When you dwell on their words and let them dominate your thoughts, you make them your master.

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Whatever your vocation, pursue it wholeheartedly. Consider, choose, and commit.

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Our possessions should be suited to our bodies and lives, just as our shoes are suited to our feet. Could you run better if your shoes were larger than your feet, or gold-plated and diamond studded? Of course not. Once you let your appetite exceed what is necessary and useful, desire knows no bounds.

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Once you have reigned in your bodily appetites, do not brag about it. Ask for water, but do not announce at the table, “I only drink water.” Consider how much more austere are the poor than you, and how much greater the hardships they endure. Do not make a spectacle of self-deprivation. When you fast, tell no one.

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Cover of Twilight of the Idols.

Twilight of the Idols

by Friedrich Nietzsche · published 1888 · read 2020-05-25
★★★★☆
Nitsche has Opinions on Greek philosophers.
Cover of Tao Te Ching.

Tao Te Ching

by Lao Tzu · published -600 · read 2020-03-26
★★★★★
More old philosophy.