Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the living, and her eyes they blind.
EpictetusRead
As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote compares the process of life and death to changing clothes, suggesting that our souls transition into new bodies as we shed the old ones.
Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher, uses the metaphor of changing clothes to illustrate the concept of reincarnation or the soul's journey. Just as a man discards old garments for new ones, the essence of a person transitions from one body to another, emphasizing the idea of renewal and the impermanence of physical existence while suggesting a continuity of the soul.
Themes
RenewalSoulTransitionImpermanenceChange
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech discussing the journey of life.
More from Epictetus
All quotes βLearn to distinguish what you can and can't control. Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, desires and the things that repel us. They are directly subject to our influence.
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Men are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
EpictetusRead
Nothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds you back. For your own will is always within your control. Sickness may challenge your body. But are you merely your body? Lameness may impede your legs. But you are not merely your legs. Your will is bigger than your legs. Your will needn't be affected by an incident unless you let it.
EpictetusRead
The people have a right to the truth as they have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
EpictetusRead
Practice yourself, for heaven's sake, in little things, and thence proceed to greater.
EpictetusRead
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While everything around me is ever changing, ever dying, there is underlying that change a living power that is changeless, that holds all together, that creates, dissolves and recreates.... For I can see in the midst of death, life persists, in the midst of untruth, truth persists, in the midst of darkness light persists.
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