Epictetus Works (Discourses, Enchiridion, Fragments)

...instead, we take care of many things and encumber ourselves with many: the body, property, a brother, a friend, a child, and a slave. Because of this variety of burdens, we are weighed down and dragged toward the earth. Therefore, when the weather does not happen to be fair for sailing, we sit in distress and constantly peer out. "Which way is the wind blowing?" we ask. "From the North." What use is that to us? "When will the West wind blow?" Whenever it pleases, friend—or rather, whenever Aeolus In Greek mythology, Aeolus was the keeper of the winds pleases. For Zeus has not made you the master of the winds; he gave that role to Aeolus.

What, then, should we do?

We must make the best of what is in our power and take the rest of what happens as it comes.

And how does it come?

However it pleases God.

"What then? Must I be the only one to be beheaded?"

Well, would you want the whole world to be beheaded just to comfort you? Why aren't you willing to stretch out your neck with dignity, like Lateranus* did when Nero ordered his execution? For when Lateranus flinched slightly after receiving a weak blow from the executioner, he immediately stretched his neck out again. And even before this, when Epaphroditus,† the freedman of Nero, questioned him...

• Plautius Lateranus, a Consul-elect, was put to death by the command of Nero for being part of the conspiracy of Piso. His execution was so sudden that he was not permitted to say goodbye to his wife and children. He was hurried to a place used for the punishment of slaves and killed there by the hand of the tribune Statius. He suffered in stubborn silence, never reproaching Statius, even though Statius was actually involved in the same plot for which Lateranus was being punished. original: "TACITUS, Ann. xv. c. 60." — Tacitus, Annals, Book 15, Chapter 60 — C.

† Epaphroditus was the "Master of Petitions" and a freedman A former slave who had been granted legal freedom of Nero, as well as the master who owned Epictetus. He later assisted Nero in committing suicide; for this act, he was eventually condemned to death by Emperor Domitian. original: "SUETONIUS in Vitâ Neronis, c. 49; Domit. c. 14." — Suetonius, Life of Nero, Chapter 49; Domitian, Chapter 14 — C.