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XIII: How Everything May Be Done Acceptably to the Gods explained

Epictetus explains that eating and living acceptably to the gods involves justice, contentment, equanimity, temperance, and order.

What happens

Epictetus explains that eating and living acceptably to the gods involves justice, contentment, equanimity, temperance, and order. He uses the example of a slave bringing tepid water to illustrate that one should not become angry, but instead remember that all humans are kin, offspring of Zeus, and that ruling over others should not lead to tyranny. He criticizes those who focus on earthly laws of property rather than divine laws of kinship.

Themes in this chapter

  • Dichotomy of Control

    Epictetus emphasizes controlling one's reactions (e.g., not being vexed by a slave's actions) rather than external events.

  • Social Duty and Friendship

    The duty to treat slaves as brothers and kinsmen, recognizing shared descent from Zeus, is a key social obligation.

  • Providence and Acceptance

    Accepting circumstances (like tepid water) with equanimity is presented as pleasing to the gods.

Characters to notice

  • Epictetus

    The speaker who answers the question about eating acceptably to the gods and instructs on proper attitude toward slaves.

  • Zeus

    Mentioned as the progenitor of all humans, emphasizing kinship and divine descent.

Key passages

  • “If he can eat justly and contentedly, and with equanimity, and temperately and orderly, will it not be also acceptably to the gods?”

    If a person eats with justice, contentment, calmness, moderation, and order, that is pleasing to the gods.

    Epictetus links virtuous eating to divine acceptance.

  • “Slave yourself, will you not bear with your own brother, who has Zeus for his progenitor, and is like a son from the same seeds and of the same descent from above?”

    You who are a slave yourself, can you not tolerate your own brother, who is also a child of Zeus, born from the same divine origin?

    Epictetus reminds the listener of shared divine kinship to foster patience and compassion.

  • “But I have purchased them, and they have not purchased me. Do you see in what direction you are looking, that it is towards the earth, towards the pit, that it is towards these wretched laws of dead men? but towards the laws of the gods you are not looking.”

    You say 'I bought them, they didn't buy me'—but you are focusing on earthly, mortal laws rather than the divine laws that recognize all as kin.

    Epictetus criticizes the reliance on human property laws instead of divine principles of equality.

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