How to be invincible? This is what we can learn from the discourse of Epictetus in Book 1, chapter 18. Although it is titled: That We Should Not Be Angry With Those Who Fall Into Error, in the end, it gives us the recipe to be invincible. The steps Epictetus takes to bring us there are important. They not only ask a lot of questions, but they also put things into perspective. We also get a deeper and more practical application of the dichotomy of control from this discourse.
“If what the philosophers say be true, that all men’s actions proceed from one source, namely feeling, such that in the case of assent, it is the feeling that something is so, and of dissent, the feeling that it is not so, and, by Zeus, in the case of suspended judgment, the feeling that it is uncertain… if all this is in fact true, why should we still be angry at the multitude?”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.1-2
Here it is being said in a different way as compared to in the Handbook, but this is the dichotomy of control. Our actions come from one source: they come from our feelings or persuasions. Before we can approve, disprove, or withhold our judgment, we need to know the truth. We need to objectively observe what is going on and based on that apply our reason and logic to find the virtuous course of action. But this doesn’t always happen in reality.
Error is caused by ignorance
What I left out from the quote, is when Epictetus mentions our impulses. These are driven by wants, desires, and aversions. In this case, we judge one thing as appropriate and go do something else. Our impulse takes over and leads us away from that which we know is good. This is where the discourse goes into thieves, robbers, and adulterers. Those who have gone in error.
“Show them their error.”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.4
Should we be angry with them or pity them, Epictetus asks us. We should show them where they went wrong and they should then pivot to doing the right thing. If they don’t, then they have lost the higher sense of living and instead lean on their personal opinion. This falls in line with what the Stoics believe, that people don’t do bad things knowing they are bad. They do it out of ignorance of what the good thing is.
How to treat those who err?
“If the greatest harm a man can suffer is to be deprived of the most valuable things, and the most valuable thing in each man is a right moral choice, when any one is deprived just this thing, how can one still be angry with him?”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.8
Should the thief and adulterer be put to death? Epictetus continues with this question. He compares them to a blind person not able to distinguish white from black. But the thieves and robbers can’t see good from bad. Are only thieves and adulterers the ones who make wrong moral choices? Does the degree of error matter, if our morality is the most valuable thing? How morally right are you in the choices that you make? Or as Epictetus puts it,
“How have you suddenly become so wise that you are angry at others as though they were mere fools?”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.11
Anger doesn’t lead to invincibility
The title of the discourse in this translation refers to us becoming angry at those who make mistakes. But why are we angry? That doesn’t sound like someone invincible. Epictetus shows us that this is because we value things that aren’t our own.
“Because we admire those things which such people take from us.”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.11
The robber steals our possessions, the adulterer our partner, but we lose our cool because we place too much value on these externals. We need to learn to live in the moment and be grateful for when they are part of our lives. If fate chooses to take them away, then we need to let them go.
“If you give up on these things, and look upon them as nothing, with whom will you still be angry? But as long as you admire them, be angry with yourself rather than with others.”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.12
What do you own?
The person who steals or cheats doesn’t know where the good lies. Epictetus gives us an example with an iron lamp hanging outside of his house. If the thief thinks the good lies in that lamp, can you blame him for taking it? But you know better, the good lies within us. Not in our opinion of that lamp. After Epictetus’s lamp was stolen, he went and bought an earthenware one. The light will still be the same as the other lamp, but it won’t be as prone to theft as before.
“For a man can only lose what he has.”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.16
We own nothing apart from our reason and logic, our opinions, judgments, and actions. Even our body isn’t ours. We hear the example of a tyrant. The tyrant can cut off our leg, and our head, but he can’t influence our choice. To know your choice we must, as the ancients say – “Know Thyself”.
How to be invincible
“I do not say you may not groan, but do not groan within yourself.”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.19
Do not go into the victim mentality. When we are hurt, we have a reaction that can lead to groaning, crying, or whatever expression. This is useful to deal with the initial shock of something. But don’t let it go inward, don’t groan toward yourself or start having pity with yourself. If you wish to be invincible, you need to assess the situation in the correct way.
“Who then is the invincible man? He whom nothing outside of the sphere of choice can disconcert.”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.21
What is the Stoic Man?
In the post on What is the Stoic Man, we had a look at this concept through the mind of Marcus Aurelius. But Epictetus is helping us out again here. Yet, this works for both men and women. It’s not about physical strength. He compares someone who puts his invincibility on the physical aspect to an ass. The body can falter, and our possessions can get stolen, it’s how we deal with it that determines how invincible we are.
When we learn how to place the right value on things, we won’t have to be angry with those who steal or harm us. We know that they are losing the one aspect of life that is important, which is our moral choice. And we choose to place that value within ourselves, and not in externals. This is not easy to do, and we will all struggle with this, but if we can then we become invincible, as Epictetus says:
“He is able to overcome all these things.”
Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 18.22
We also don’t have to practice this by ourselves, we can find support and help. If you are looking for some guidance in dealing with anger or with externals, you can sign up for our newsletter or look for our coaching offers here.
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