The Washington times., 1920-03-18
Let Us, Who Are Free, Learn
of q Slave
He Talked Almost Nineteen Hundred Years Ago, But the
World Still Listens.

Let US take few minutes today to learn lesson Of
humility.
We are Free that u.s. we are as free as we make our
selves. At least, are not slaves.
With all our freedom however, is there one name OF
alive today that with all the advantages freedom gives
will be mentioned nineteen hundred years from now?
How many writers and teachers OF today Will be quoted
when even as few as hundred years have passed?
But you read the sayings of Epictetus you will avail
yourself of wisdom that uttered more than fourteen
hundred years before this continent was discovered
Epictstus was slave He did not have so far as is
recorded even name for "Epictetus' is from Greek
word which acquired and is not proper name
oat all.
He was the property of Epaphroditus, who mem
Der of the court Of Nero and his beat him bray
that he made him q cripple.
But the beatings which injured his body did not disturb
his soul No whip could his mind nor overcome his
determination and power to THINK.
Perhaps while attending his MASTER he heard what the
Greek philosophers said and taught From somewhere at
least he got foundation of ideas on which he built
philosophy of his own.
Because of physical nrmities he lost his value as
slave and his master him Free Thereafter he taught
other what he had learned and Aanoswho was the
historian of Alexander the Greatbecame his pupil and
wrote down the sayings of his teacher.
They called Golden Sayings" perhaps because
there is much that left unsad In them AS you read
them you will supply in your mind what he did not
for they will make you think and expand the ideas of which
he sometimes only gave the merest hint and outline
AS you read them think how much better opportunity
even the poorest boy in Washington has than did this
abused slave Consider What he would have been if he
could have had the advantage Of modern schools and
libraries and all the thousand and of information
that are free to those who will them.
It should make feel very small and very humble
when we think that few years from there will be
ono to remember because have left nothing worth
while to be remembered by. .,..
What Epictetus taught to his students is useful to
it to them The Truth changes
its value outgrows with old age being applicable
What follows is worth reading aloud in the family cir
ce 1t is 80 simply and plainly worded that the chill
dren will understand practically all of it, and here and
there something raises question in their minds explain
them.
If you like this kind Of reading you get all of his
sayings in cheap binding for what you would spend
cigar glass of soda water
These of the things he taught
When a youth was giving himself airs in the thea
ter and saying, 81 wise, for have conversed with
many wise men, Epictetus replied 81, too, have con-
versed with many rich men, yet am not rich!'
If you told that such an one speaks ill of you
make no defense against what said but answer
He surely knew not my other faults else he would not
have mentioned these only
At feasts, remember that you are entertaining two
guests body and SOUL What you give to the body you
presently lose what give to the SOUL you keep for
ever.
That good reply which Diogenes made to
who asked him for letters of recommendation.
''That you a he will know when he sees you;
whether good or bad one he will know if he has any
skill in discerning the good and the bad But if he has
none he will never know, though write to him thou
sand times.' 1t is as though piece of silver money
desired to be recommended to one to be tested
If the man be good judge of silver he will know; the
coin will tell its own tale.
Not death pain is to be feared, but the fear of
death pain. Well said the poet therefore: Death has
terror; only Death of shame!
When you have decided that thing ought to be