February 7, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Book Excerpts ||

Remind Yourself of the Basic Principles

Chuck Chakrapani

Key ideas of this discourse

1. Whoever regards things that are not under their choice as good will be subject to envy and desire. They will flatter others and will be troubled.
2. Whoever regards things that are not under their choice as evil shall be full of sorrow, will grieve, will lament, and will be unhappy.
3. Everything comes from God. So, in all your personal and social relationships, do not dishonour others.

Violating these principles will result in unhappiness

When we don’t obey some rules, ‘punishment’ follows, as though we have disobeyed the divine governing order:

• Whoever regards things that are not under their choice as good will be subject to envy and desire. They will flatter others and shall be troubled.
• Whoever regards things that are not under their choice as evil will be full of sorrow, will grieve, will lament, and will be unhappy.

Yet, despite these harsh penalties, we cannot stop thinking this way. Remember what the poet says of the stranger:

Stranger, it is not permitted, even if worse should come

Than you, to dishonour a stranger; for all come from Zeus.

Strangers and beggars.

[This verse is frequently attributed to Homer in his Odyssey. This translation is by Robin Hard.]

You should also keep this thought at hand and apply it to your father, too: “I’m not permitted to dishonour you, father, even if I face something worse than you, because all things come from God, who protects parents.” Likewise, in the case of a brother: “Because all things come from God of kindred.” And in a similar manner in all our other relationships: We shall find God to be the overseer of them all.

Think about this

There are certain punishments laid down, as though by law, for those who disobey the divine governance. Discourses III.11.1 Epictetus [CG/RH]