The Golden Sayings of Epictetus CLXXXIV

CLXXXIV

On all occasions these thoughts should be at hand:—

Lead me, O God, and Thou, O Destiny,(21)
Be what it may the goal appointed me,
Bravely I’ll follow; nay, and if I would not,
I’d prove a coward, yet must follow still!
Again:

Who to Necessity doth bow aright,
Is learn’d in wisdom and the things of God.
Once more:—

Crito, if this be God’s will, so let it be. As for me,
Anytus and Meletus can indeed put me to death, but injure me,
never!
(21) These verses are by Cleanthes, the successor of Zeno as leader of the Stoics, and author of the Hymn printed in Appendix B.