Epictetus · Complete work
Chapter 22
Chapter 22 of 53. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Ancient Greek
[22.1] εἰ φιλοσοφίας ἐπιθυμεῖς, παρασκευάζου αὐτόθεν ὡς καταγελασθησόμενος, ὡς καταμωκησομένων σου πολλῶν, ὡς ἐρούντων ὅτι ἄφνω φιλόσοφος ἡμῖν ἐπανελήλυθε καὶ πόθεν ἡμῖν αὕτη ἡ ὀφρύς; σὺ δὲ ὀφρὺν μὲν μὴ σχῇς· τῶν δὲ βελτίστων σοι φαινομένων οὕτως ἔχου, ὡς ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ τεταγμένος εἰς ταύτην τὴν χώραν· μέμνησό τε διότι, ἐὰν μὲν ἐμμείνῃς τοῖς αὐτοῖς, οἱ καταγελῶντές σου τὸ πρότερον οὗτοί σε ὕστερον θαυμάσονται, ἐὰν δὲ ἡττηθῇς αὐτῶν, διπλοῦν προσλήψῃ καταγέλωτα.
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from all 53 Ancient Greek chapters and 105 sections for fidelity, Stoic precision, clarity, structure, and cadence.
[22.1] If you desire philosophy, prepare yourself from the outset to be ridiculed and mocked by many, and to hear them say, “He has suddenly come back to us a philosopher,” and, “Where did he get that lofty brow?” But do not put on a lofty brow. Hold fast, rather, to the things that seem best to you, as one appointed by God to this station. And remember that if you remain steadfast in the same principles, those who formerly ridiculed you will afterward admire you; but if you yield to them, you will incur ridicule twice over.
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from all 53 Ancient Greek chapters and 105 sections.
[22.1] If you desire philosophy, prepare yourself from the outset to be laughed at and mocked by many people, who will say, “Suddenly he has come back to us as a philosopher,” and, “Where did he get that haughty look?” But do not put on a haughty look. Hold fast to the things that seem best to you, as someone assigned by God to this post. And remember that if you remain faithful to the same principles, those who laughed at you before will later admire you; but if you let them defeat you, you will be laughed at twice as much.