Short Works · Chapter
LXXXIV explained
Epictetus uses the analogy of a horse-trainer to explain the duty of a skilled political leader.
What happens
Epictetus uses the analogy of a horse-trainer to explain the duty of a skilled political leader. Just as a trainer feeds all colts but disciplines the disobedient to bring them up to standard, a good ruler must provide for all citizens but more vigorously instruct and correct those who resist reason and law, aiming for their improvement rather than their ruin.
Themes in this chapter
Social Duty and Relationship
The chapter explicitly details the duty of a skilled leader to care for and improve all citizens, especially those who resist, framing governance as a form of paternalistic education.
Practical Ethics and Self-Discipline
The leader's role is presented as an active, disciplined practice of teaching and urging citizens toward reason and law, mirroring the trainer's disciplined correction.
Characters to notice
- Epictetus
The narrator who provides the analogy of the horse-trainer to illustrate the principles of skilled governance and social duty.
Key passages
“As a skilful horse-trainer does not feed (only) the good colts and allow to starve those who are disobedient to the rein, but he feeds both alike, and chastises the one more and forces him to be equal to the other:”
A good leader, like a skilled trainer, provides for everyone but gives more corrective discipline to those who are unruly to bring them up to the same level as the good.
Establishes the core analogy between animal training and political leadership.
“so also a careful man and one who is skilled in political power, attempts to treat well those citizens who have a good character, but does not will that those who are of a contrary character should be ruined at once; and he in no manner grudges both of them their food, but he teaches and urges on with more vehemence him who resists reason and law.”
Similarly, a conscientious and skilled ruler tries to benefit good citizens but does not desire the immediate ruin of the bad. He provides for both without resentment, but teaches and pushes more forcefully the one who opposes reason and law.
Applies the analogy directly to statecraft, emphasizing instruction and reform over neglect or destruction.