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Secondary sourceBookearly 2nd century AD (this edition 1683)

Enchiridion of Epictetus

Arrian · early 2nd century AD (this edition 1683)

A short handbook of Stoic ethical advice compiled by Arrian from Epictetus's teaching, opening with the idea that some things are 'up to us' and others are not.

Records Epictetus's spoken teaching as compiled by his pupil Arrian, making it the most famous source for his philosophy.

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Title page and opening of Chapter I of the Enchiridion of Epictetus, a 1683 edition with Greek and Latin text in two columns, a decorated initial letter, and Latin commentary below.
Arrian (compiler), Enchiridion of Epictetus, 1683 edition by Abraham van Berkel.

About this source

What it is

The Enchiridion, or Handbook, is a short collection of Stoic precepts compiled by Arrian, a pupil of the philosopher Epictetus, in the early 2nd century AD. It condenses ideas from Epictetus's longer Discourses into practical rules for daily life. The image shown is from a 1683 printed edition in Greek and Latin.

Why it matters

This small book became one of the most widely read works of Stoic philosophy, studied in monasteries and later translated across Europe. It reveals how Epictetus's spoken teaching, remembered and arranged by a devoted student, could shape how people for centuries thought about freedom, control, and misfortune.

Look closer

  • Why might a student like Arrian choose to preserve his teacher's words rather than write his own philosophy?
  • What does the opening idea — that some things are 'up to us' and some are not — suggest about how Epictetus wanted people to live?
  • Why do you think this short handbook became more popular than Epictetus's longer Discourses?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Epictetus on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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A photographed page of an ancient Greek manuscript on aged, yellowed parchment with brownish edges. Dense lines of handwritten Greek script fill the page, with a large dark brown stain in the center obscuring part of the text. A small circular library stamp appears on the right side, and a marginal number is visible at the upper right. Some marginal notes are written at the lower right.Book

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Arrian · c. 108 AD

A photographed page of an old handwritten Greek manuscript on yellowed, worn parchment. The dense brown-black lines of script are written in a cursive hand, with a large dark stain in the middle obscuring part of the text. A circular library stamp is visible at the upper right and another near the bottom. Faded marginal notes appear on the right side.Document

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Codex Bodleianus

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Title page of a 1558 Latin and Greek edition of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, printed in Zurich by Andreas Gesner. The page lists Xylander as translator and includes a second title for Marinus' Life of Proclus.Book

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Meditations

Marcus Aurelius · c. 170-180 AD (this edition printed 1558)

Scan of the inside cover or flyleaf of a book, grey and aged, with an oval library stamp reading 'Bibliotheque de la Ville de Poitiers' and 'D 3463' at top left, and handwritten shelfmark 'v. 33.' and 'in 8°' in the centre. No title page text is visible.Book

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Altercacion, dialogue de l'Empereur Adrian et du Philosophe Epictete

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Plain dark red-brown leather book cover with mottled texture, faded lighter streaks and worn spots, and no visible title or text. Likely the binding of an antique book.Book

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Commentary on the Enchiridion of Epictetus

Simplicius of Cilicia · c. 530s AD

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