Epictetus his Morals, with Simplicius his comment made English from the Greek, by George Stanhope ...

COMMENT.

VVE are not always to aim at that Good, which is most noble and excellent in it self, but that which we are best qualified for, and is most suitable to our own Circumstances. For there never comes any good of extravagant

Undertakings. So that we shall do well to pro∣ceed leisurely in the choice of the Figure we desire to make in the World, and not aspire to things above us. An eminent Orator, or a Phi∣losopher in a Common-wealth; a Pilot, or Ma∣ster in a Ship; a Prince, or publick Magistrate in a State: These are Characters that look great and gay; but yet every body should not desire them, because every body is not cut out for them. And it is much more graceful for a Man to be in a lower Station, where he fills his Post, and tops his part, than to be in a higher; which he cannot come up to, nor discharge the Duties of with that decency and applause that is ex∣pected. Thus a Man had better be a good Usher, and teach the first grounds of Learning well, than an unable Master, who cannot finish what is well begun. And it is more desirable to be an honest and prudent Manager of a private Fa∣mily, than a bad Governour of a City or Na∣tion. For, besides the prejudice such persons do themselves, in not coming up to the Dignity of a Character too lofty for them (which miscar∣riage I would have rated, not by the Approbation or the Censure of the World, but according to the real Nature of the Character it self) they are unfortunate in another respect. For they have not only come off very scurvily in at∣tempting what they were not fit for; but they have slipp'd an opportunity too, of behaving themselves well, and gaining applause in some∣thing else which they were fit for. For it is in Humane Life, as it is in a Play-house, where the Praise is due not to the Part, but to the Perfor∣mance; and he that plays a Servant well, is

look'd upon with more approbation, and repu∣ted a better Actor, than he that attempts to play a Man of Honour, or a Prince, and does it ill.

This Chapter too seems to me to have a more immediate regard to Equity and Justice; for it advises every body to be content with that part, which Providence sees fittest for them upon this Stage of Life; that they should not affect Cha∣racters above them, nor be desirous of, or dis∣satisfied with those that are assigned to other people.