The whole manual

Contents

Fifty-one sections in six parts. Every section is one page of one part; the anchors are stable, so any section can be linked directly.

I The First Distinction What is yours to direct · ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν
  1. 1 What is up to us There are things which are within our power, and there are things which are beyond our…
  2. 2 Desire and aversion Remember that desire demands the attainment of that of which you are desirous; and…
  3. 3 The cup and the kiss With regard to whatever objects either delight the mind or contribute to use or are…
  4. 4 On the way to the bath When you set about any action, remind yourself of what nature the action is. If you are…
  5. 5 Views, not things Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of things. Thus death…
  6. 6 The handsome horse Be not elated at any excellence not your own. If a horse should be elated, and say, “I am…
  7. 7 The ship at anchor As in a voyage, when the ship is at anchor, if you go on shore to get water, you may…
  8. 8 Wish it as it happens Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do…
II Training Attention Practices for the moment · προσοχή
  1. 9 The leg, not the will Sickness is an impediment to the body, but not to the will unless itself pleases.…
  2. 10 Look for the faculty Upon every accident, remember to turn toward yourself and inquire what faculty you have…
  3. 11 Restored, not lost Never say of anything, “I have lost it,” but, “I have restored it.” Has your child died?…
  4. 12 Spilled oil, stolen wine If you would improve, lay aside such reasonings as these: “If I neglect my affairs, I…
  5. 13 Content to seem foolish If you would improve, be content to be thought foolish and dull with regard to externals.…
  6. 14 Who is your master? If you wish your children and your wife and your friends to live forever, you are…
  7. 15 The banquet Remember that you must behave as at a banquet. Is anything brought round to you? Put out…
  8. 16 Groan, but not inwardly When you see anyone weeping for grief, either that his son has gone abroad or that he has…
  9. 17 Your part in the play Remember that you are an actor in a drama of such sort as the Author chooses—if short,…
III Freedom Among Others Status, insult, and company · ἐλευθερία
  1. 18 The raven's croak When a raven happens to croak unluckily, be not overcome by appearances, but discriminate…
  2. 19 The unconquerable You can be unconquerable if you enter into no combat in which it is not in your own power…
  3. 20 Who affronts you? Remember that it is not he who gives abuse or blows, who affronts, but the view we take…
  4. 21 Death before your eyes Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible, be daily before your…
  5. 22 Prepare to be laughed at If you have an earnest desire toward philosophy, prepare yourself from the very first to…
  6. 23 Appear so to yourself If you ever happen to turn your attention to externals, for the pleasure of anyone, be…
  7. 24 Nobody anywhere? Let not such considerations as these distress you: “I shall live in discredit and be…
  8. 25 The price of the supper Is anyone preferred before you at an entertainment, or in courtesies, or in confidential…
  9. 26 Your neighbor's cup The will of nature may be learned from things upon which we are all agreed. As when our…
  10. 27 The mark and the miss As a mark is not set up for the sake of missing the aim, so neither does the nature of…
  11. 28 Handing over your mind If a person had delivered up your body to some passer-by, you would certainly be angry.…
  12. 29 Count the whole cost In every affair consider what precedes and what follows, and then undertake it. Otherwise…
IV The Work of a Person Roles, duties, and judgment · καθήκοντα
  1. 30 Duties from relations Duties are universally measured by relations. Is a certain man your father? In this are…
  2. 31 On piety Be assured that the essence of piety toward the gods lies in this—to form right opinions…
  3. 32 On divination When you have recourse to divination, remember that you know not what the event will be,…
  4. 33 A prescribed character Begin by prescribing to yourself some character and demeanor, such as you may preserve…
  5. 34 Procure yourself delay If you are dazzled by the semblance of any promised pleasure, guard yourself against…
  6. 35 Once you have judged When you do anything from a clear judgment that it ought to be done, never shrink from…
  7. 36 The larger share As the proposition, “either it is day or it is night,” has much force in a disjunctive…
  8. 37 A part beyond your strength If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself…
  9. 38 Where you set your foot As in walking you take care not to tread upon a nail, or turn your foot, so likewise take…
V A Steadier Mind Habit, restraint, and endurance · ἄσκησις
  1. 39 The foot and the shoe The body is to everyone the proper measure of its possessions, as the foot is of the…
  2. 40 Adornment and esteem Women from fourteen years old are flattered by men with the title of mistresses.…
  3. 41 The body, incidentally It is a mark of want of intellect to spend much time in things relating to the body, as…
  4. 42 It seemed so to him When any person does ill by you, or speaks ill of you, remember that he acts or speaks…
  5. 43 The two handles Everything has two handles: one by which it may be borne, another by which it cannot. If…
  6. 44 Richer, not better These reasonings have no logical connection: “I am richer than you, therefore I am your…
  7. 45 Hastily, not ill Does anyone bathe hastily? Do not say that he does it ill, but hastily. Does anyone drink…
VI The Final Posture Living in accordance with reason · προκοπή
  1. 46 Wool and milk Never proclaim yourself a philosopher, nor make much talk among the ignorant about your…
  2. 47 Tell nobody When you have learned to nourish your body frugally, do not pique yourself upon it; nor,…
  3. 48 Marks of the proficient The condition and characteristic of a vulgar person is that he never looks for either…
  4. 49 Interpreting Chrysippus When anyone shows himself vain on being able to understand and interpret the works of…
  5. 50 Now is the combat Whatever rules you have adopted, abide by them as laws, and as if you would be impious to…
  6. 51 Ready at hand The first and most necessary topic in philosophy is the practical application of…