Epictetus, the Enchiridion 26-51

Turns out there were 51 points in total

26. "These are casualties that will happen." You should apply this not only to others, but to your own experiences.

27. "As a mark is not set up for the sake of missing the aim, so neither does the nature of evil exist in the world."

28. You would be angry if your body was delivered to a passer by, so you should feel shame delivering your own mind to a passer by.

29. Consider for every affair what precedes it and follows. Then do it. Otherwise, you will first be excited but it will turn into shame. You will mimic everything but nothing in earnest. Consider your own body and if it is fit for the achievement. To be a philosopher, you must eat, drink, be content- all this must be fixed. You will be laughed at, you'll have to lose friends and come off as worse than others. Consider these things, and whether if you part with them if you will have serenity, freedom and tranquility. If so, then pursue that. If not, then do not. You should be one man, either good or bad. Be either a philosopher or one of the mob.

30. Duties are necessarily measured by relations. Another cannot hurt you, unless you please. Consider not what he does but what you should do to align your will in particular.

31. Piety is forming right opinions on the gods. Obey and willingly follow them and you will be ruled by the most perfect wisdom. Never find fault in the gods. Naturally, when disappointed, you blame something, it is impractical to rejoice in who hurt you or the hurt itself. To regulate your desires and aversions is piety.

32. Finding help in divination- you don't know what it will be- but you know its nature- if you are of philosophic mind. If something is not with our own power it is by no means either good or evil. Do not bring to the diviner desire or aversion. Clearly understand every event is indifferent and nothing to you. For it is in your power to make a use of it. So come to the gods with confidence. Remember who's advice you are getting. Only come to gods when there is no other option. We have reason to stand with our friends and country.

33. Prescribe to yourself some character and demeanor, and preserve it both alone and in company. Don't talk too much, just say what it needed. Don't talk about common subjects such as sport or food, which blames, praises and compares. Talk about proper subjects. Don't laugh a lot. Avoid taking oaths. Avoid public/vulgar entertainments. If you must, avoid the vulgarity. Only provide what is needed for the body in food, drink, clothing, house and advisers. Cut off anything who's purpose is show and luxury. Before marriage don't have intercourse but be kind to those who do and don't boast about it. If you are spoken ill of say "he was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone." Don't appear publicly often but if you do don't try to stand out. Abstain from violent emotions. Avoid being disagreeable. When talking with someone superior to you behave like Socrates or Zeno. If you want to visit someone powerful expect that they might not notice or talk to you and say "it was not worth so much". In company avoid excessively mentioning your own actions, others don't care as much as you do. Avoid trying to incite laughter as this slides into vulgarity and thus will lower your appearance to others. Rebuke vulgarity or be silent, blush and have a serious look.

34. If you are dazzled by promised pleasure, don't be bewildered. Be patient, and think of what you will enjoy and what you will regret. Also think about how you'll rejoice and applaud at yourself if you successfully abstain from it.

35. Don't worry about being seen doing something which you yourself have clear judgement of, even if others will misunderstand it. If the action is wrong, shun it and don't do it. If it's not wrong then there's no reason to fear.

36. Remember the value of proper courtesy of the host when eating.

37. To assume a character beyond your strength is demeaning yourself.

38. Take care not to step on nails (?)

39. The body is the proper measure of possession.

40. Know that women may perceive themselves honored only if they are beautiful in their demeanor and modestly virtuous.

41. Spending time with the body (exercising, eating, drinking) is a sign of wanting intellect.

42. When a person does ill by you or speaks ill of you, he does this from his own impression that it is right to do so. He wouldn't follow what is right to you. If he judges from false appearance, he is the one hurt, since he is deceived. "It seems so to him."

43. Everything has two "handles"- one which it may be borne by and one which it cannot be borne by. If your brother acts unjustly, lay the handle not his injustice which can't be borne, but lay the handle that he is you brother (not sure what this means).

44. "I am richer, so I am superior" and "I am more elegant, so I am superior" are not logical. "I am richer so my possessions exceed yours" is, but you do not consist of property nor style.

45. Don't assume that one acts ill- bathes ill or drinks ill- say they bathe hastily or drink a great deal. You don't know if he acts ill unless you perfectly understand his motivation. So you don't risk having false impressions of other people.

46. Don't say you are a philosopher or talk about your principles among the ignorant but show them through your actions. Don't talk about how you should eat, but eat as you ought. Be silent if the ignorant discuss principles. If they say you know nothing, your plan has worked.

47. If you nourish yourself don't always say so. The poor are much more frugal and patient.

48. A vulgar person never looks for help or harm from himself but only from externals. Philosophers look to themselves for all help or harm and censures, praises, blames and accuses no one. They restrain from desire and aversion. They don't care if they appear stupid.

49. If I read Chrysippus and don't understand, I seek to interpret it, and then make use of the instructions. But that alone is valuable. If I only value the interpretation I am no more than a grammarian.

50. Abide by the laws you adopt. Don't be concerned with what others have to say. Procrastination on becoming a better person will lead to nothing but a vulgar mind. Live as one seeking to be like Socrates, although you are not Socrates yet.

51. The first topic of philosophy is practical application of principles- "we ought not to lie". Second- it is the demonstration- "why we ought not to lie". Thirdly, logic and strength to these two- "this is why this is a demonstration". What is consequent, truth, falsehood, etc. The most necessary is the first point. We spend too much time on the third point and neglect the first. Maxim- "Conduct me, Zeus, and O destiny wherever your decrees have fixed my lot.  I follow cheerfully and did I not, wicked and wretched, I must follow still. Whoever yields properly to fate is deemed wise among men, and knows the laws of Heaven." The third- "O Crito, if it thus pleases the gods, thus let it be." "Anytus and Melitus may kill me indeed; but hurt me they cannot".

So in summary I think the most important things to take away from this is that Epictetus (what a great name) thinks you should have a level of divorcement from your life and circumstances. You should be aware of what is external to you and what is within your control. You shouldn't waste time on what is outside of your control, which is pretty common sense advice. He encourages you to understand that life is what you view it as, and although you cannot change the external circumstances, you can change your view of those circumstances. Furthermore, you should avoid desire and aversion of things outside of your control, therefore you won't be disappointed. Try to be understanding of others, since they act based on what they believe is right. This was pretty interesting and quick to read since its a summary. I don't think I agree with a lot of things here but a lot of it is pretty good advice. I'd come to a lot of the same conclusions before reading anything to do with stoicism but its helped fill in some gaps that I hadn't thought up myself, I had "everything is nothing to me" pinpointed down but I never thought the following part "because it is yours to use however you want". Next up on the list is Letters from a Stoic by Seneca. I might go back and read more of Epictetus (Discourses) but I'll put that off til later.