Epictetus: Philosopher Humor

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Here is an example of Epictetus’ humor from his Discourses Book 1, Chapter 26:

“I know a man who clung to the knees of Epaphroditus [a philosopher] in tears and said he was in distress, for he had nothing left but a million and a half [dollars]. What did Epaphroditus do? Did he laugh at him, as we should? No, he was astonished, and said, ‘Unhappy man, how ever did you manage to keep silence and endure it?”

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