41.1 Ἀφυίας σημεῖον τὸ ἐνδιατρίβειν τοῖς περὶ τὸ σῶμα, οἷον ἐπὶ πολὺ γυμνάζεσθαι, ἐπὶ πολὺ ἐσθίειν, ἐπὶ πολὺ πίνειν, ἐπὶ πολὺ ἀποπατεῖν, ὀχεύειν· ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν ἐν παρέργῳ ποιητέον, περὶ δὲ τὴν γνώμην ἡ πᾶσα ἔστω ἐπιστροφή.

    Concentrate on Matters of the Mind, Not the Body

    ἐπὶ πολὺ: “too much”

    ὀχεύειν: “mount, cover,” a rather clinical term for sexual intercourse, normally used only of animals. In Diss. 1.6.14 Epictetus assigns the bodily traits listed here (e.g. eating, drinking, etc.) to animals; humans in addition possess understanding.

    ἐν παρέργῳ: “on the side,” “in passing”

    ἔστω: 3 sg. pres. act. imper.


    ἀφυΐα, -ας, ἡ, lack of natural power or talent

    ἐνδιατρίβω, ἐνδιατρίψω, ἐνεδιάτριψα, to spend time + dat.

    ἐπὶ πολύ, too much

    γυμνάζω, γυμνάσω, ἐγύμνασα, to train naked, exercise

    ἐσθίω, ἔδομαι, ἔφαγον, to eat

    ἀποπατέω, ἀποπήσομαι, ἀπεπησάμην, to go to the bathroom

    ὀχεύω, ὀχεύσω, ὤχευσα, to have sex

    πάρεργον, -ου, τό, subordinate business

    ποιητέος, -α, -ον, (verb. adj.) to be made or done, that must be done

    ἐπιστροφή, -ῆς, ἡ, a turning about, attention

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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-41