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Epictetus on what is in our power

by c. 135 CE, Nicopolis. As Arrian recorded it, in his digest of the teaching.

Where and when

by c. 135 CENicopolis

about 1,891 years ago

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Epictetus

, NicopolisAs Arrian recorded it, in his digest of the teaching

In plain words, ours

Some things are up to us and some are not. Our opinions, urges, wants and dislikes are. Our body, property, reputation and position are not.

OF things some are in our power, and others are not. In our power are opinion (ὑπόληψις), movement towards a thing (ὁρμή), desire, aversion (ἔκκλισις, turning from a thing); and in a word, whatever are our own acts: not in our power are the body, property, reputation, offices (magisterial power), and in a word, whatever are not our own acts.

Epictetus, Handbook (Enchiridion) 1Translated by George Long (1877)Read the full passage (Epictetus, Handbook (Enchiridion) 1, opens scaife.perseus.org)

What was going on, our summary

The opening line of Arrian's short digest of Epictetus' teaching at Nicopolis. It dates from no later than about 135 CE. The next line goes on to say that the things in our power are free by nature.

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

Why it matters

The Handbook opens with this statement, announcing that the real self is concerned with matters under its own control, untouched by outside chance or change.

Based on Wikipedia: Enchiridion of Epictetus

The Enchiridion begins with the statement, "Of things, some depend upon ourselves, others do not depend upon ourselves."

So it starts with announcing that the business and concern of the real self is with matters subject to its own control, uninfluenced by external chance or change.

Wikipedia, Enchiridion of Epictetus (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2025-11-22. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

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

  1. c. 62–65 CEabout 72 years earlier Seneca on time, the only thing we own Also about how to live well
  2. by c. 135 CEThis momentEpictetus on what is in our power
  3. by c. 135 CEBy this year Epictetus on what really disturbs us Same passageMore from Epictetus
  4. by c. 135 CEBy this year Epictetus on the two handles More from Epictetus
  5. by c. 135 CEBy this year Epictetus on wishing things as they are Same passageMore from Epictetus
  6. c. 170–180 CEabout 40 years later Marcus Aurelius on what his mother taught Also about how to live well

Just before and after

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

Show the passageHide the passage

The quote: OF things some are in our power, and others are not. In our power are opinion (ὑπόληψις), movement towards a thing (ὁρμή), desire, aversion (ἔκκλισις, turning from a thing); and in a word, whatever are our own acts: not in our power are the body, property, reputation, offices (magisterial power), and in a word, whatever are not our own acts.

And the things in our power are by nature free, not subject to restraint nor hindrance: but the things not in our power are weak, slavish, subject to restraint, in the power of others.

Epictetus, Handbook (Enchiridion) 1Translated by George Long (1877)Read the full passage (opens scaife.perseus.org)

When, and whose words

Date
by c. 135 CE. Arrian’s short digest of Epictetus’ teaching at Nicopolis; its own date is not known, so it is dated by Epictetus’ death, c. 135 CE.
Whose words
As Arrian recorded it, in his digest of the teaching.
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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