Epictetus · Complete work
Chapter 42
Chapter 42 of 53. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Ancient Greek
[42.1] ὅταν σέ τις κακῶς ποιῇ ἢ κακῶς λέγῃ, μέμνησο, ὅτι καθήκειν αὐτῷ οἰόμενος ποιεῖ ἢ λέγει. οὐχ οἷόν τε οὖν ἀκολουθεῖν αὐτὸν τῷ σοὶ φαινομένῳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ ἑαυτῷ, ὥστε, εἰ κακῶς αὐτῷ φαίνεται, ἐκεῖνος βλάπτεται, ὅστις καὶ ἐξηπάτηται. καὶ γὰρ τὸ ἀληθὲς συμπεπλεγμένον ἄν τις ὑπολάβῃ ψεῦδος, οὐ τὸ συμπεπλεγμένον βέβλαπται, ἀλλʼ ὁ ἐξαπατηθείς. ἀπὸ τούτων οὖν ὁρμώμενος πρᾴως ἕξεις πρὸς τὸν λοιδοροῦντα. ἐπιφθέγγου γὰρ ἐφʼ ἑκάστῳ ὅτι ἔδοξεν αὐτῷ.
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.
[42.1] Whenever someone treats you badly or speaks ill of you, remember that he acts or speaks as he does because he thinks it is fitting. He cannot, then, follow what appears right to you, but only what appears right to him; so if his view is mistaken, the one who is harmed is the one who has been deceived. For if someone supposes a true compound proposition to be false, it is not the proposition that is harmed, but the person who has been deceived. If you proceed from these principles, therefore, you will be gentle toward anyone who reviles you. For on each occasion say, “It seemed so to him.”
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from all 53 Ancient Greek chapters and 105 sections.
[42.1] When someone treats you badly or speaks badly of you, remember that he does or says it because he thinks it is appropriate for him to do so. He therefore cannot follow what appears right to you, but only what appears right to him. Consequently, if his judgment is wrong, the one who is harmed is the one who has been deceived. For if someone supposes a true complex proposition to be false, it is not the proposition that has been harmed, but the person who was deceived. Starting from these considerations, then, you will be gentle toward anyone who insults you. For each time, say, “That is how it appeared to him.”