10.1 ἐφ' ἑκάστου τῶν προσπιπτόντων μέμνησο ἐπιστρέφων ἐπὶ σεαυτὸν ζητεῖν, τίνα δύναμιν ἔχεις πρὸς τὴν χρῆσιν αὐτοῦ. ἐὰν καλὸν ἴδῃς ἢ καλήν, εὑρήσεις δύναμιν πρὸς ταῦτα ἐγκράτειαν· ἐὰν πόνος προσφέρηται, εὑρήσεις καρτερίαν· ἂν λοιδορία, εὑρήσεις ἀνεξικακίαν. καὶ οὕτως ἐθιζόμενόν σε οὐ συναρπάσουσιν αἱ φαντασίαι. 

    You Have the Capacity to Deal with Whatever Happens to You 

    ἐφ' ἑκάστου: “in each case”; See ch. 3 for the same phrase.

    προσπιπτόντων: “of what has happened to you”; see ἐμπιπτόντων in the previous chapter.

    μέμνησο: > μιμνήσκω, 2 sg. perf. mid. imper.

    πρὸς τὴν χρῆσιν αὐτοῦ: “toward the use of it,” i.e.,“to deal with it”

    καλὸν ... καλήν: “a good-looking man or woman.” ταῦτα in the next clause refers back to them.

    ἴδῃς: > ὁράω, 2 sg. aor. act. subj. in a future more vivid condition (G. 650; S. 2291.3a)   

    προσφέρηται: > προσφέρω, “is presented,” “approaches,” “attacks” (LSJ προσφέρω B.), 3rd sg. pres. pass. subj. in a future more vivid condition (G. 650; S. 2291.3a)

    ἄν: ἐάν

    οὕτως ἐθιζόμενόν σε: “you so accustomed,” i.e. “if/when you have accustomed yourself [middle voice] to think in this way.” The participle (ἐθιζόμενόν) is equivalent to a conditional or temporal clause.

    σε οὐ συναρπάσουσιν αἱ φαντασίαι: if the φαντασίαι are not κατὰ φύσιν, then they will carry you away into passion and enslavement. Variations of this phraseology recur in ch. 16.1, 18.1, 19.2 and 20.1.

    προσπίπτω, προσπεσοῦμαι, -έπεσον, to fall upon, happen

    ἐπιστρέφω, - στρέψω, -έστρεψα, to turn around, turn to; (mid.) turn oneself around; pay attention

    χρῆσις, -εως, ἡ, use

    ἐγκράτεια, -ας, ἡ, self-control, prudence

    προσφέρω, προσοίσω, προσένεικα, to bring to, apply to; (pass.) approach, attack

    καρτερία, -ας, ἡ, endurance, perseverance

    λοιδορία, -ας, ἡ, verbal abuse, insult

    ἀνεξικακία, -ας, ἡ, forbearance

    ἐθίζω, ἐθιῶ, εἴθισα, to accustom

    συναρπάζω, -άσω, συνήρπασα, to seize, carry away

    φαντασία,-ας, ἡ, impression, appearance, perception

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    Suggested Citation

    Albert Watanabe, Epictetus: Encheiridion. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2020. ISBN: 978-1-947822-13-9.
    https://dcc.dickinson.edu/epictetus-encheiridion/chapter-10