garments which the hierophant ought to have, nor the hair, nor the
head-dress, nor the voice, nor the age; nor have you purified yourself
as he has: but you have committed to memory the words only, and you
say: "Sacred are the words by themselves."
You ought to approach these matters in another way; the thing is
great, it is mystical, not a common thing, nor is it given to every
man. But not even wisdom perhaps is enough to enable a man to take
care of youths: a man must have also a certain readiness and fitness
for this purpose, and a certain quality of body, and above all
things he must have God to advise him to occupy this office, as God
advised Socrates to occupy the place of one who confutes error,
Diogenes the office of royalty and reproof, and the office of teaching
precepts. But you open a doctor's shop, though you have nothing except
physic: but where and how they should be applied, you know not nor
have you taken any trouble about it. "See," that man says, "I too have
salves for the eyes." Have you also the power of using them? Do you
know both when and how they will do good, and to whom they will do
good? Why then do you act at hazard in things of the greatest
importance? why are you careless? why do you undertake a thing that is
in no way fit for you? Leave it to those who are able to do it, and to
do it well. Do not yourself bring disgrace on philosophy through
your own acts, and be not one of those who load it with a bad
reputation. But if theorems please you, sit still and turn them over
by yourself; but never say that you are a philosopher, nor allow
another to say it; but say: "He is mistaken, for neither are my
desires different from what they were before, nor is my activity
directed to other objects, nor do I assent to other things, nor in the
use of appearances have I altered at all from my former condition."
This you must think and say about yourself, if you would think as
you ought: if not, act at hazard, and do what you are doing; for it
becomes you.

CHAPTER 22

About cynicism

When one of his pupils inquired of Epictetus, and he was a person
who appeared to be inclined to Cynism, what kind of person a Cynic
ought to be and what was the notion of the thing, We will inquire,
said Epictetus, at leisure: but I have so much to say to you that he
who without God attempts so great a matter, is hateful to God, and has
no other purpose than to act indecently in public. For in any
well-managed house no man comes forward, and says to himself, "I ought
to be manager of the house." If he does so, the master turns round
and, seeing him insolently giving orders, drags him forth and flogs
him. So it is also in this great city; for here also there is a master
of the house who orders everything. "You are the sun; you can by going
round make the year and seasons, and make the fruits grow and
nourish them, and stir the winds and make them remit, and warm the
bodies of men properly: go, travel round, and so administer things