The Enchiridion
The Enchiridion, or handbook, is a short digest of the teaching of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, compiled by his pupil Arrian in the early second century AD. Epictetus, a former slave who taught in Greece, left no writings of his own; the handbook condenses his lectures into some fifty brief sections on what is in our power and what is not, on judging events rather than being ruled by them, on duty, desire, grief, insult and death. Its opening sentence sets the program: some things are up to us and some are not. The translator, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, was an American abolitionist and colonel of a Black regiment in the Civil War who found in Epictetus a philosophy for hard times. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the opening pages are free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Enchiridion
The Enchiridion by Epictetus can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Enchiridion online?
Yes. The Enchiridion opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Enchiridion free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Enchiridion is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Enchiridion in the public domain?
Yes. The Enchiridion by Epictetus is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Thomas Wentworth Higginson. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Enchiridion?
About 45 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Enchiridion?
The Enchiridion by Epictetus is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
