# LXXIV explained — Short Works

> Chapter companion for Short Works by Epictetus.

## What happens

A brief anecdote illustrating the single-minded focus of the mathematician Archimedes, who was so absorbed in his work that his slaves had to physically pull him away to care for his body, after which he would continue his diagrams on his own skin.

## Themes in this chapter

### Moderation and Simplicity

Archimedes exemplifies a radical simplicity and indifference to conventional bodily care, prioritizing his intellectual work over physical comfort or appearance.

### Practical Ethics and Self-Discipline

The story demonstrates a form of disciplined focus, where external necessities (anointing) are handled minimally so that the primary work (reasoned study) can continue uninterrupted.

## Character check-ins

### Archimedes

The subject of the anecdote, depicted as a man of intense intellectual focus, indifferent to bodily care and using his own anointed body as a surface for his diagrams.

### The Gods

Implied as the source of the natural order and reason that Archimedes, through his dedication to geometry, is aligning himself with.

## Key lines

> The slaves of Archimedes used to drag him by force from his table of diagrams and anoint him; and Archimedes would then draw his figures on his own body when it had been anointed.

Archimedes was so engrossed in his geometric studies that his servants had to physically remove him to perform basic grooming. Even then, he repurposed his freshly oiled skin as a canvas for his work.

_Highlights the philosopher's/scientist's complete absorption in his craft, showing a disregard for social conventions of bodily care in favor of intellectual pursuit._

## Links

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