Short Works · Chapter
C explained
A concise, direct statement on the necessity of aligning thought with ethical action, asserting that forbidden actions must be excluded even from consideration.
What happens
A concise, direct statement on the necessity of aligning thought with ethical action, asserting that forbidden actions must be excluded even from consideration.
Themes in this chapter
Practical Ethics and Self-Discipline
The excerpt is a foundational rule for ethical living, emphasizing that self-discipline begins with governing one's thoughts to prevent wrongful actions.
Characters to notice
- Epictetus
The author of the aphorism, presenting a core principle of Stoic self-discipline.
Key passages
“What we ought not to do, we should not even think of doing.”
Prohibited actions must be banished from the mind entirely, not just avoided in deed.
Highlights the Stoic focus on internal governance as the root of ethical behavior.