http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.htmlPeter Kirby wrote:I also look forward to any more exact citation and context for the quotation attributed here to Epictetus.
#50
Sorry, my fault...
Context:
It is unclear to me whether or not this work genuinely represents a composition by Epictetus, or if it is instead the work of Arrian.
It appears to be a collection of homilies, sayings, and advice. Here is the entire passage, #50, for context.
Epictetus/Arrian wrote:Whatever moral rules you have deliberately proposed to yourself. abide by them as they were laws, and as if you would be guilty of impiety by violating any of them. Don't regard what anyone says of you, for this, after all, is no concern of yours. How long, then, will you put off thinking yourself worthy of the highest improvements and follow the distinctions of reason? You have received the philosophical theorems, with which you ought to be familiar, and you have been familiar with them. What other master, then, do you wait for, to throw upon that the delay of reforming yourself? You are no longer a boy, but a grown man. If, therefore, you will be negligent and slothful, and always add procrastination to procrastination, purpose to purpose, and fix day after day in which you will attend to yourself, you will insensibly continue without proficiency, and, living and dying, persevere in being one of the vulgar. This instant, then, think yourself worthy of living as a man grown up, and a proficient. Let whatever appears to be the best be to you an inviolable law. And if any instance of pain or pleasure, or glory or disgrace, is set before you, remember that now is the combat, now the Olympiad comes on, nor can it be put off. By once being defeated and giving way, proficiency is lost, or by the contrary preserved. Thus Socrates became perfect, improving himself by everything. attending to nothing but reason. And though you are not yet a Socrates, you ought, however, to live as one desirous of becoming a Socrates.
Thus, the idea that the "Galileans" mentioned by Julian, and supposedly cited by Epictetus (I still haven't located that source), represent Christians, is coming from monasteries in the middle ages. Does Julian cite Epictetus? Does any other Roman Historian, besides Arrian, describe second, third or fourth century "Galileans"? Who is the first to link Galileans to "Christians"? Do the Persians comment on these Galileans, during their reign over Jerusalem, i.e. before, during, and after the Baghdad emigration/destruction of the first temple? I have certainly not uncovered any reference to Jesus or his followers in the writings of Epictetus/Arrian. Maybe I simply have not read enough, yet!!!Wikipedia wrote:Another significant work by Arrian is the Encheiridion (“Manual”), a manual of the teachings of Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher whose disciple Arrian was. This work was much used in the Middle Ages as a guide to the principles of the monastic life.
