# CXLVI explained — Short Works

> Chapter companion for Short Works by Epictetus.

## What happens

A brief, stark statement on the nature of possession and attachment, specifically regarding a father's relationship to his daughter.

## Themes in this chapter

### Dichotomy of Control

The excerpt directly classifies a daughter as an external 'possession' that is 'not his own,' reinforcing the Stoic principle of distinguishing between what is within our control (our judgments and actions) and what is not (external people and things).

### Acceptance of Nature and Fate

By defining a familial relationship in terms of non-possession, the statement encourages acceptance of the transient and independent nature of all externals, aligning with accepting the natural order of things.

## Key lines

> A daughter is a possession to her father which is not his own.

Even a father's daughter is an external thing he does not truly own or control.

_This paraphrase clarifies the Stoic view that even our closest relationships involve externals that are not subject to our ultimate control, and thus should not be viewed as personal property._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/epictetus_short_works_se/chapters/cxlvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/epictetus_short_works_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/epictetus_short_works_se/chapters