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.


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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