Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Characteristics of a philosopher - Epictetus - (commonplace entry from June 2006)

The condition and characteristic of an uninstructed person is this: he never expects from himself advantage or harm, but from externals.
The condition and characteristic of a philosopher is this: he expects all harm and all advantage from himself.

The signs of the one who is making progress are these:
  • he censures no man
  • he praises no man
  • he blames no man
  • he accuses no man
  • he says nothing about himself as if he were somebody or knew something
  • when he is impeded at all or hindered, he blames himself
  • if a man praises him, he ridicules the praiser to himself
  • if a man censures him, he makes no defence
  • he removes all desires from himself and he transfers aversion to those things within power and contrary to nature
  • He employs a moderate movement towards everything
  • Whether he is considered foolish or ignorant, he cares not
And, in a word, watches himself as if he were an enemy waiting in ambush.
- Epictetus - Enchiridion.

(June 18, 2006, Commonplace from journal (Miquelrius) )

1 comment:

Unknown said...

ummmm.......when i will understand this ....i will let u know ;)
hehe
just kid'g