Short Works · Chapter
CIII explained
A stark metaphor contrasts the natural, harmless scavenging of crows on the dead with the soul-destroying, blinding flattery inflicted upon the living.
What happens
A stark metaphor contrasts the natural, harmless scavenging of crows on the dead with the soul-destroying, blinding flattery inflicted upon the living.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This moment is the emotional and philosophical peak where Epictetus forces the reader into a crisis of choice,…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Practical Ethics and Self-Discipline
The excerpt serves as a practical warning against the vice of flattery, framing it as a destructive force more harmful than a physical act of nature, urging ethical vigilance.
- Reason as Guide and Consolation
The metaphor uses reason to expose the true danger of flattery—it blinds the soul's perception and judgment, which are guided by reason.
Key passages
“Crows devour the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them. But flatterers destroy the souls of the living and blind their eyes.”
Crows picking at a corpse is a neutral, natural event, as the dead feel nothing. In contrast, a flatterer actively corrupts and ruins the inner life and discernment of a living person.
Highlights the comparative harm: physical decay vs. active spiritual corruption.
