Short Works · Chapter
CX explained
A brief chapter advising that one should not pursue every pleasure, but only those pleasures which are aligned with and lead toward the good.
What happens
A brief chapter advising that one should not pursue every pleasure, but only those pleasures which are aligned with and lead toward the good.
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 provides a direct, practical rule for ethical living: exercising discernment and self-discipline in the pursuit of pleasure, choosing only those aligned with the good.
- Moderation and Simplicity
The advice implicitly promotes moderation by rejecting the indiscriminate pursuit of all pleasures, advocating for a simpler, more selective approach guided by reason.
Key passages
“A man should choose (pursue) not every pleasure, but the pleasure which leads to the good.”
Do not chase after every enjoyable feeling; only pursue those pleasures that guide you toward what is truly good and virtuous.
This is a concise ethical filter, distinguishing between base pleasure and pleasure that serves a higher, rational purpose.
