--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Epictetus actually says all the enmity…" description: "\"“Epictetus actually says all the enmity between people is down to a single judgement of this kind, they ‘put themselves and what belongs to themselves ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/donald-j-robertson-32244_father-and-son_epictetus-actually-says-all-the-enmity-b_1144965.jpg" --- # Epictetus actually says all the enmity between people is… ![“Epictetus actually says all the enmity between people is down to a single judgement of this kind, they ‘put themselves and what belongs to themselves in the category of things which lie outside the sphere of volition’ (Discourses, 2.22). We see dogs playfully fawning on each other and might say…” quote by Donald J. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/donald-j-robertson-32244_father-and-son_epictetus-actually-says-all-the-enmity-b_1144965.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/donald-j-robertson-32244_father-and-son_epictetus-actually-says-all-the-enmity-b_1144965.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/donald-j-robertson-32244_father-and-son_epictetus-actually-says-all-the-enmity-b_1144965.jpg) > ““Epictetus actually says all the enmity between people is down to a single judgement of this kind, they ‘put themselves and what belongs to themselves in the category of things which lie outside the sphere of volition’ (Discourses, 2.22). We see dogs playfully fawning on each other and might say that they ‘love’ one another as ‘friends’ but if we throw a piece of meat between them then a fight breaks out and they are quickly pitted against each other. Throw some land or money between father and son, he says, and we will see how fragile the bond is between them, as long as external things are confused with our ultimate good (Discourses, 3.24).”” [Donald J. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-j-robertson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We judge others as outsiders when we treat external things as essential, causing conflict and fragile bonds. **In simple terms:** Seeing others as outsiders leads to conflict. Key Takeaway Recognize what truly matters and let go of external attachments. Themes philosophy relationships psychology Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - family disputes - workplace tension - friendship challenges - conflict resolution Key Concepts Stoicism judgment volition Questions to Reflect On - What external thing do you value most? - How can you shift focus to internal virtues? A Different Perspective If external rewards dominate, bonds may still break despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Father and son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-and-son/) ## Related quotes > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“The call of Jesus teaches us that our relation to the world has been built on an illusion. 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