Furman Classics. Dramaturg Editions. C. Blackwell, 2026. CC-BY-NC. Code and instructions on Github.

Epictetus, Discourses

Discourses of Epictetus (Ἐπικτήτου διατριβαί) or Arrian's Diatribai of Epictetus (Ἀρριανοῦ τῶν Ἐπικτήτου Διατριβῶν). Based on Epicteti Dissertationes ab Arriano digestae. Heinrich Schenkl, ed. Leipzig. Teubner (1916). Original SGML digital edition by The Perseus Project, G. Crane, ed. This derived edition, C. Blackwell, Furman University. 2026. Source texts and code for this page (and others) on GitHub. Licensed CC-BY-NC. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0557.tlg001:

Table of Contents

Prologue – 4
Chapter “Prologue”
Chapter “1”
Passages 1.1.2–1.2.37
Passages 1.3.head–1.6.12
Passages 1.6.13–1.8.6
Passages 1.8.7–1.11.3
Passages 1.11.4–1.12.18
Passages 1.12.19–1.16.15
Passages 1.16.16–1.19.3
Passages 1.19.4–1.22.14
Passages 1.22.15–1.25.28
Passages 1.25.29–1.28.16
Passages 1.28.17–1.29.45
Passages 1.29.46–2.1.3
Chapter “2”
Passages 2.1.4–2.2.23
Passages 2.2.24–2.6.7
Passages 2.6.8–2.8.25
Passages 2.8.26–2.11.6
Passages 2.11.7–2.13.15
Passages 2.13.16–2.15.17
Passages 2.15.18–2.17.3
Passages 2.17.4–2.18.21
Passages 2.18.22–2.20.7
Passages 2.20.8–2.21.16
Passages 2.21.17–2.23.4
Passages 2.23.5–2.24.11
Passages 2.24.12–3.1.head
Chapter “3”
Passages 3.1.1–3.2.head
Passages 3.2.1–3.4.10
Passages 3.4.11–3.7.27
Passages 3.7.28–3.10.12
Passages 3.10.13–3.13.22
Passages 3.13.23–3.18.8
Passages 3.18.9–3.22.5
Passages 3.22.6–3.22.56
Passages 3.22.57–3.22.106
Passages 3.22.107–3.24.6
Passages 3.24.7–3.24.52
Passages 3.24.53–3.24.106
Passages 3.24.107–3.26.28
Passages 3.26.29–4.1.1
Chapter “4”
Passages 4.1.2–4.1.56
Passages 4.1.57–4.1.99
Passages 4.1.100–4.1.144
Passages 4.1.145–4.3.9
Passages 4.3.10–4.4.42
Passages 4.4.43–4.6.4
Passages 4.6.5–4.7.11
Passages 4.7.12–4.8.15
Passages 4.8.16–4.10.5
Passages 4.10.6–4.11.20
Passages 4.11.21–4.13.15
Passages 4.13.16–4.13.24

Epictetus

Epictetus (Ἐπίκτητος). c. AD 50–135) was a Greek Stoic philosopher born into slavery in Hierapolis, Phrygia (modern-day southwestern Turkey), who became one of the most influential teachers of practical Stoicism in the Roman Empire. His teachings, which emphasize distinguishing between what is within human control—such as judgments, desires, and choices—and what is not, like external events or the body, were recorded by his pupil Lucius Flavius Arrianus in the Discourses and the Enchiridion.

The Discourses

The Discourses of Epictetus (Ἐπικτήτου διατριβαί) represent the primary surviving record of his philosophical teachings, compiled by his student Arrian of Nicomedia between approximately AD 104 and 107 from lectures delivered in Nicopolis, Greece. Originally consisting of eight books, only the first four have been preserved, capturing informal dialogues rather than polished treatises. The work adopts a dialogic format, with Epictetus engaging directly with students through questions and responses, often drawing on everyday scenarios to illustrate Stoic principles.