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Single Idea 23351

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people ]

Full Idea

You are a citizen of the universe, and a part of it; and no subservient, but a principal part of it.

Gist of Idea

We are citizens of the universe, and principal parts of it

Source

Epictetus (The Discourses [c.56], 2.10.03)

Book Ref

Epictetus: 'The Discourses, The Handbook, Fragments', ed/tr. Gill,C [Everyman 1995], p.95

A Reaction

He got this view from Diogenes of Sinope, one of his heroes. What community you are a part of seems to be a choice as much as a fact. Am I British or a European?

The 45 ideas from Epictetus

23325 Epictetus developed a notion of will as the source of our responsibility [Epictetus, by Frede,M]
23324 In the Discourses choice [prohairesis] defines our character and behaviour [Epictetus, by Frede,M]
23331 Not even Zeus can control what I choose [Epictetus]
23338 You can fetter my leg, but not even Zeus can control my power of choice [Epictetus]
23339 I will die as becomes a person returning what he does not own [Epictetus]
23340 We consist of animal bodies and god-like reason [Epictetus]
23329 We make progress when we improve and naturalise our choices, asserting their freedom [Epictetus]
20873 Tragedies are versified sufferings of people impressed by externals [Epictetus]
23341 God created humans as spectators and interpreters of God's works [Epictetus]
23342 Freedom is acting by choice, with no constraint possible [Epictetus]
23330 Freedom is making all things happen by choice, without constraint [Epictetus]
23343 Because reason performs all analysis, we should analyse reason - but how? [Epictetus]
22604 Punishing a criminal for moral ignorance is the same as punishing someone for being blind [Epictetus]
23344 Reason itself must be compounded from some of our impressions [Epictetus]
23328 The essences of good and evil are in dispositions to choose [Epictetus]
23345 Don't be frightened of pain or death; only be frightened of fearing them [Epictetus]
23346 A person is as naturally a part of a city as a foot is part of the body [Epictetus]
23347 If I know I am fated to be ill, I should want to be ill [Epictetus]
23348 Both god and the good bring benefits, so their true nature seems to be the same [Epictetus]
23349 Asses are born to carry human burdens, not as ends in themselves [Epictetus]
23350 A wise philosophers uses reason to cautiously judge each aspect of living [Epictetus]
23351 We are citizens of the universe, and principal parts of it [Epictetus]
20874 A citizen is committed to ignore private advantage, and seek communal good [Epictetus]
23352 A citizen should only consider what is good for the whole society [Epictetus]
20875 If we could foresee the future, we should collaborate with disease and death [Epictetus]
23353 We have a natural sense of honour [Epictetus]
23354 If someone harms themselves in harming me, then I harm myself by returning the harm [Epictetus]
20876 Philosophy investigates the causes of disagreements, and seeks a standard for settling them [Epictetus]
23355 The task of philosophy is to establish standards, as occurs with weights and measures [Epictetus]
23356 Self-evidence is most obvious when people who deny a proposition still have to use it [Epictetus]
23357 Knowledge of what is good leads to love; only the wise, who distinguish good from evil, can love [Epictetus]
23358 Every species produces exceptional beings, and we must just accept their nature [Epictetus]
23332 Zeus gave me a nature which is free (like himself) from all compulsion [Epictetus]
23359 We can't believe apparent falsehoods, or deny apparent truths [Epictetus]
23360 Each of the four elements in you is entirely scattered after death [Epictetus]
23361 Health is only a good when it is used well [Epictetus]
23363 The evil for everything is what is contrary to its nature [Epictetus]
23362 All human ills result from failure to apply preconceptions to particular cases [Epictetus]
21394 Philosophy is knowing each logos, how they fit together, and what follows from them [Epictetus]
23364 Homer wrote to show that the most blessed men can be ruined by poor judgement [Epictetus]
23367 Even pointing a finger should only be done for a reason [Epictetus]
4022 Epictetus says we should console others for misfortune, but not be moved by pity [Epictetus, by Taylor,C]
23365 If someone is weeping, you should sympathise and help, but not share his suffering [Epictetus]
23368 Perhaps we should persuade culprits that their punishment is just? [Epictetus]
23366 We see nature's will in the ways all people are the same [Epictetus]