# LVII explained — Short Works

> Chapter companion for Short Works by Epictetus.

## What happens

The chapter presents a single, powerful statement attributed to Diogenes, which defines the only valid form of labor as that which aims to strengthen the soul's courage and fortitude, explicitly rejecting labor aimed at mere bodily strength.

## Themes in this chapter

### Virtue as the Only Good

Diogenes's statement directly equates 'good' labor with the cultivation of soul-based virtues (courage, strength of soul), dismissing bodily ends as irrelevant to true goodness.

### Practical Ethics and Self-Discipline

The aphorism serves as a practical ethical criterion for evaluating one's actions and efforts, guiding the individual to focus their labor on internal, characterological improvement.

## Key lines

> Diogenes said that no labour was good, unless the end (purpose) of it was courage and strength ( τόνος ) of the soul, but not of the body.

According to Diogenes, the only worthwhile effort is that which has the specific goal of building moral courage and resilience in one's character, not physical prowess.

_This paraphrase clarifies the philosophical target: labor is redefined from physical or external achievement to an internal, ethical project._

## Links

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