Epictetus
–Handbook, 5.
2 “Ench”,
1.5.1.1
"Circumstances* do not trouble* men; but [their] conclusions* concerning circumstances do."
Tara¿ssei tou\ß
aÓnqrw¿pouß ouj ta» pra¿gmata, aÓlla» 2 ta» peri« tw◊n
pragma¿twn do/gmata.
NOTA BENE:
FlexLex (Flexibility lexicon):
* Things/circumstances = facts;
deeds; events; circumstances
*trouble = disturb; disquiet; stir up; confound; alarm;
frighten; throw into disorder; agitate; distract
*conclusions =
decree to be true; judgments; decisions; dogma
PROBLEMS concerning possible word
choices: (1) “opinions” has Platonic history; (2) “judgments” has Kantian
history
Emphatic
formula = Tara¿ssei (verb=disturb)+
do/gmata (subject=opinions)
Several possible translations:
- “What upsets people is not things themselves but their judgments about the things.”
- Not disturbing to men are things, but rather opinions (cf. Plato) about those things.
- Circumstances do not frighten people; but their judgments about those circumstances sure do.
- Things do not trouble* men; but [their] conclusions* concerning things do.
Commentary: Any limitation we have is the creations of our
own minds, which means that our destiny is, truly, in our own hands.
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