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Epictetus on dropping self-conceit

c. 108 CE, Nicopolis. As Arrian recorded it.

Where and when

c. 108 CENicopolis

about 1,918 years ago

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Epictetus

, NicopolisAs Arrian recorded it

In plain words, ours

The first job of anyone doing philosophy is to drop the belief that they already know. You cannot start learning what you think you know.

WHAT is the first business of him who philosophizes? To throw away self-conceit (οἴησις). For it is impossible for a man to begin to learn that which he thinks that he knows.

Epictetus, Discourses 2.17Translated by George Long (1877)Read the full passage (Epictetus, Discourses 2.17, opens scaife.perseus.org)

What was going on, our summary

From Epictetus' talks at Nicopolis, as Arrian wrote them down. Just before, he says you are no Hercules able to purge away the wickedness of others: clear away your own sadness, fear, envy and greed.

Checked claim by claim against: the passage around the quote.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. 334–323 BCEabout 436 years earlier Alexander writes to Aristotle Also about knowing and not knowing
  2. c. 335–322 BCEabout 435 years earlier Aristotle on becoming just by just acts Also about teaching and learning
  3. c. 335–322 BCEabout 435 years earlier Aristotle puts truth before friends Also about knowing and not knowing
  4. c. 108 CEThis momentEpictetus on dropping self-conceit
  5. c. 108 CEAbout the same year Epictetus on chains and the will More from Epictetus
  6. c. 108 CEAbout the same year Epictetus on facing death without lament More from Epictetus
  7. c. 108 CEAbout the same year Epictetus on Socrates and his accusers More from Epictetus
  8. c. 170–180 CEabout 67 years later Marcus Aurelius on what Rusticus taught him Also about teaching and learning

Just before and after

The text around the quote, word for word from the same translation.

Show the passageHide the passage

In obedience to God then he went about purging away injustice and lawlessness. But you are not Hercules and you are not able to purge away the wickedness of others; nor yet are you Theseus, able to purge away the evil things of Attica Clear away your own. From yourself, from your thoughts cast away instead of Procrustes and Sciron, sadness, fear, desire, envy, malevolence, avarice, effeminacy, intemperance. But it is not possible to eject these things otherwise than by looking to God only, by fixing your affections on him only, by being consecrated to his commands. But if you choose any thing else, you will with sighs and groans be compelled to follow what is stronger than yourself, always seeking tranquillity and never able to find it; for you seek tranquillity there where it is not, and you neglect to seek it where it is.

The quote: WHAT is the first business of him who philosophizes? To throw away self-conceit (οἴησις). For it is impossible for a man to begin to learn that which he thinks that he knows.

As to things then which ought to be done and ought not to be done, and good and bad, and beautiful and ugly, all of us talking of them at random go to the philosophers; and on these matters we praise, we censure, we accuse, we blame, we judge and determine about principles honourable and dishonourable. But why do we go to the philosophers? Because we wish to learn what we do not think that we know. And what is this? Theorems. For we wish to learn what philosophers say as being something elegant and acute; and some wish to learn that they may get profit from what they learn.

Epictetus, Discourses 2.16–17Translated by George Long (1877)Read the full passage (opens scaife.perseus.org)

When, and whose words

Date
c. 108 CE. Epictetus’ talks at his school in Nicopolis, as his student Arrian took them down; Arrian’s notes are usually dated to about 108 CE.
Whose words
As Arrian recorded it.
How this post was checked
  • The plain-words line was read against the quote alone by a second, independent pass, which found it adds no claim the quote does not make (2026-10-03).
  • Each claim in the summary was checked by an independent pass against only the material it cites.
  • The quote itself is checked by the build: word for word, once, at the cited section of the stored translation.

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