Short Works · Chapter
CXI explained
A concise aphorism contrasting the wise man's resistance to pleasure with the foolish man's enslavement to it.
What happens
A concise aphorism contrasting the wise man's resistance to pleasure with the foolish man's enslavement to it.
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
- Moderation and Simplicity
The chapter directly advocates for resisting pleasures, a core tenet of moderation, and warns against the slavery of being controlled by them.
- Practical Ethics and Self-Discipline
The distinction between the wise and foolish man hinges on the practical exercise of self-discipline in the face of pleasure.
Key passages
“It is the part of a wise man to resist pleasures, but of a foolish man to be a slave to them.”
Wisdom is shown by mastering one's desires, while folly is shown by being mastered by them.
A direct, binary statement on the ethical stance towards pleasure, defining character through one's relationship to desire.
