For this is your duty, to act well the part that is given to you; but to select the part, belongs to another.
Genuine
Yes. In Enchiridion (Handbook) (107), Section 17 (concluding sentence); George Long translation, chapter XVII.
Found word for word by program in the Greek original and in George Long’s English translation.
- Work
- Enchiridion (Handbook) (Ἐγχειρίδιον), 107
- Where
- Section 17 (concluding sentence); George Long translation, chapter XVII
- Found at
- Paragraph 41 of the Greek text, 36 of the English
- Translation
- George Long
Researched by AI; checked by program against the full text on 31 October 2026. Editorial review: pending. How we check
On the page
[…] So far as words then do not be unwilling to show him sympathy, and even if it happens so, to lament with him. But take care that you do not lament internally also.
Ὅταν κλαίοντα ἴδῃς τινὰ ἐν πένθει ἢ ἀποδημοῦντος τέκνου ἢ ἀπολωλεκότα τὰ ἑαυτοῦ, πρόσεχε μή σε ἡ φαντασία συναρπάσῃ ὡς ἐν κακοῖς ὄντος αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἐκτός, ἀλλ’ εὐθὺς ἔστω πρόχειρον ὅτι «τοῦτον θλίβει οὐ τὸ συμβεβηκός (ἄλλον γὰρ οὐ θλίβει), ἀλλὰ τὸ δόγμα τὸ περὶ τούτου». μέχρι μέντοι λόγου μὴ ὄκνει συμπεριφέρεσθαι αὐτῷ, κἂν οὕτω τύχῃ, καὶ συνεπιστενάξαι: πρόσεχε μέντοι μὴ καὶ ἔσωθεν στενάξῃς.
Remember that thou art an actor in a play, of such a kind as the teacher (author) may choose; if short, of a short one; if long, of a long one: if he wishes you to act the part of a poor man, see that you act the part naturally; if the part of a lame man, of a magistrate, of a private person, (do the same). For this is your duty, to act well the part that is given to you; but to select the part, belongs to another.
Μέμνησο, ὅτι ὑποκριτὴς εἶ δράματος, οἵου ἂν θέλῃ ὁ διδάσκαλος: ἂν βραχύ, βραχέος: ἂν μακρόν, μακροῦ: ἂν πτωχὸν ὑποκρίνασθαί σε θέλῃ, ἵνα καὶ τοῦτον εὐφυῶς ὑποκρίνῃ ἂν χωλόν, ἂν ἄρχοντα, ἂν ἰδιώτην. σὸν γὰρ τοῦτ’ ἔστι, τὸ δοθὲν ὑποκρίνασθαι πρόσωπον καλῶς: ἐκλέξασθαι δ’ αὐτὸ ἄλλου.
The scene
The Handbook compares life to a drama whose director chooses both its length and the player’s part. The examples include a poor person, a lame person, a magistrate and a private citizen. The concluding sentence separates performing the allotted part well from choosing which part to have.
What it means
Your task is to exercise your character well within circumstances you did not entirely choose. Good performance, not the prestige or comfort of the assigned role, is the measure.
Often misread
The actor metaphor does not promise that you can choose any identity or outcome you want; it expressly assigns the choice of role to someone else. Nor is this a character speaking inside a play: it is philosophical instruction using a theatrical comparison.
Topics
Related quotes
- You become what you give your attention to. (misattributed)
- Remember that it is not he who reviles you or strikes you, who insults you, but it is your opinion about these things as being insulting. When then a man irritates you, you must know that it is your own opinion which has irritated you.
- Never say about anything, I have lost it, but say I have restored it.
- Let death and exile and every other thing which appears dreadful be daily before your eyes; but most of all death: and you will never think of anything mean nor will you desire anything extravagantly.
- If what you eat does not make you drunk, it is because you were not hungry enough. André Gide
Sources
Cite it
Epictetus, Enchiridion (Handbook) (107), Section 17 (concluding sentence); George Long translation, chapter XVII, translated by George Long. Checked at Quotogeny, https://quotogeny.com/q/act-well-the-part-that-is-given-to-you/ (31 October 2026).
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