Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Nose Wiping
Arrian, Discourses of Epictetus 1.6.30-32 (tr. W.A. Oldfather):
‹Older
"Yes, but my nose is running." What have you hands for, then, slave? Is it not that you may wipe your nose? "Is it reasonable, then, that there should be running noses in the world? " — And how much better it would be for you to wipe your nose than to find fault!
"Ναί· ἀλλ ̓ αἱ μύξαι μου ῥέουσιν." τίνος οὖν ἕνεκα χεῖρας ἔχεις, ἀνδράποδον; οὐχ ἵνα καὶ ἀπομύσσῃς σεαυτόν; —Τοῦτο οὖν εὔλογον μύξας γίνεσθαι ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ; — Καὶ πόσῳ κρεῖττον ἀπομύξασθαί σε ἢ ἐγκαλεῖν;
