Short Works · Chapter
XCVIII explained
A brief directive on the proper use of wealth, advising it be employed as material for specific, appropriate acts rather than for every purpose indiscriminately.
What happens
A brief directive on the proper use of wealth, advising it be employed as material for specific, appropriate acts rather than for every purpose indiscriminately.
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 excerpt advises a measured and purposeful application of wealth, aligning with the theme of using resources with restraint and for specific, fitting ends rather than excess or indiscriminate use.
- Practical Ethics and Self-Discipline
The chapter provides a practical rule for ethical conduct regarding material possessions, emphasizing disciplined choice in how external goods are utilized.
Key passages
“We ought to use wealth as the material for some act, not for every act alike.”
Wealth should be applied as a resource for particular, suitable actions, not for any and all actions without distinction.
Highlights the Stoic principle of using externals with discernment and purpose, not as a universal tool for all desires.
