The Golden Sayings of Epictetus - Softcover

This authoritative edition of the Golden Sayings of Epictetus encapsulates the philosophy of Stoicism, with each distinct tenet of thought expressed clearly and lucidly.

The aphorisms herein vary in subject, but their evocative poignancy is unceasing – in general, we are posed moral questions and notions, and offered the answers. Many of the individual chapters here take the form of short dialogues between Epictetus and his pupil, and as such are presented conversationally. Others are simple, short statements which encapsulate an element of Stoic thought in brevity – many offer, with swift narrative, a situation which allows the reader to better appreciate the thought expressed.

Still other chapters take the form of a longer statement or discussion of a given subject – they are less ‘sayings’ than a thorough explanation of a given subject matter. The final few pages of the text contain fragments which scholars have attributed to Epictetus for their tone and content.

A master of stoical philosophy, Epictetus was born into slavery. Notable for being physically crippled and reliant upon a crutch, it was the astonishing mind Epictetus possessed that saw him become greatly valued in society – his owner, not wishing to squander his talents, permitted that he study philosophy formally.

After completing his studies, Epictetus obtained freedom and became a full-time teacher in stoical philosophy. The entirety of his writings dictated to his student Arrian, who would laud his teacher and compare his thinking to that of famed Greek philosopher Socrates. His pupil Arrian attests to his speaking abilities; as a gifted tutor and powerful speaker, Epictetus was able to make the student feel the emotion behind each principle of philosophy he taught.

In all, the Golden Sayings of Epictetus are useful to this day for their ease of consultation, brief but succinctly poignant explanations, and overarching lucidity.