The Enchiridion: a Stoic's Guide to Contentment and Tranquility

Although he was born into slavery and endured a permanent physical disability, Epictetus (ca. 50-ca. 130 CE) maintained that all people are free to control their lives and live in harmony with nature. We will always be happy, he argued, if we learn to desire that things should be exactly as they are. After attaining his freedom, Epictetus spent his career teaching philosophy and advising a daily regimen of self-examination. His pupil Arrianlater collected and published the master's lecture notes; the Enchiridion, or Manual, is a distillation of Epictetus's teachings and an instructionmanual for a tranquil life. Full of practical advice, this work offers guidelines for those seeking contentment as well asthose who have already made some progress in that direction. Translated by George Long.