Epictetus

Basic idea

Former Roman slave turned Stoic teacher (~50-135 CE). Most famous for the dichotomy of control and for grounding Stoic ethics in everyday practice (recorded by his pupil Arrian in the Discourses and Enchiridion).

Key tenets

• Dichotomy of control: some things are up to us (judgements, desires, aversions); others are not — distinguishing them is freedom.

• Suffering comes not from events but from our judgements about events.

• The will is sovereign and cannot be coerced from outside.

• Philosophy is training, not theory — practice daily.

Of one thing beware, O Man; See what is the price at which you sell your will. If you do nothing else, do not sell your will cheap.