CXLIII

Asked how a man should best grieve his enemy, Epictetus replied, “By setting himself to live the noblest life himself.”

CXLIV

I am free, I am a friend of God, ready to render Him willing obedience. Of all else I may set store by nothing — neither by mine own body, nor possessions, nor office, nor good report, nor, in a word, aught else beside. For it is not His Will, that I should so set store by these things. Had it been His pleasure, He would have placed my Good therein. But now He hath not done so: therefore I cannot transgress one jot of His commands. In everything hold fast to that which is thy Good — but to all else (as far as is given thee) within the measure of Reason only, contented with this alone.