1. The will of Nature is to be learned from matters which do not concern ourselves. Thus, when a boy may break the cup of another man, we are ready to say, It is a common chance. Know, then, that when thine own is broken, it behooves thee to be as though it were another man’s. And apply this even to greater things. Has another man’s child died, or his wife? who is there that will not say, It is the lot of humanity. But when his own may die, then straightway it is, Alas, wretched that I am! But we should bethink ourselves what we felt on hearing of others in the same plight.
1. We can learn Nature’s will from things that do not affect us. For example, when a boy breaks another man’s cup, we readily say, These things happen. So when your own cup breaks, you should respond as though it belonged to someone else. Apply this to greater things too. Has another man’s child or wife died? Who would not say, This is part of being human? But when his own child or wife dies, he immediately cries, Oh, how miserable I am! Instead, we should remember how we felt when we heard of others suffering the same loss.
This reading comes from one of the Christian Paraphrases. The other versions add πρὸς ἀλλήλους after ἐξ ὧν ὀυ διαφερόμεθα. This gives the meaning “from things in which we do not differ from each other.” All versions of Epictetus often share a clearly corrupt reading. In this case, the accepted text does offer a possible reading. Still, I felt justified in following the alternative reading in the Paraphrase.
2. As a mark is not set up to be missed, even so the nature of evil exists not in the universe.
2. A target is not set up to be missed. In the same way, evil is not part of the universe’s nature.