The Enchiridion
by Epictetus, c. 125 CE
It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
The Enchiridion is timeless wisdom for all those who want to live freely and decide wisely. This ethical “Swiss Army knife” served 1st-century Roman emperors and has traveled to war with 20th-century generals. One wonders whether Epictetus’ teachers or his lineage had some contact with wisdom from the East, specifically Buddhist thought. The themes of detachment and extinguishing trivial desires echo the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
Epictetus’ austere simplicity of life and radical renunciation of typical worldly values also place him in the company of Christian saints, prophets, and witnesses. The four cardinal virtues of courage, wisdom, justice, and temperance feature prominently in Latin Christianity and show up in the various inculturations of Christianity in Western Europe. Epictetus speaks plainly and directly. In fact, his modesty of speech is arresting and serves as a profoundly countercultural voice in our self-promotional, brand-conscious world.