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.
notes
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.
vocabulary
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