Epictetus, Enchiridion, 45

Unless you perfectly understand the principle from which anyone acts, how should you know if he acts ill?

— Epictetus on Principles

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Unless you perfectly understand the principle from which anyone acts, how should you know if he acts ill?" in the context of "Epictetus, Enchiridion, 45" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Principles" (Quotes) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Epictetus

About Epictetus

Epictetus (c. 55 – c. 135 AD), born a slave, was a Greek Stoic philosopher. His words were recorded by his student Arrian in the Discourses and Enchiridion written in the early 2nd-century.