Epictetus says, “Your poor body, then, is it slavish or free?” One of his students says, “We know not.” “Do you not know that it is a slave to fever, gout, ophthalmia, dysentery, the tyrant, fire, sword, everything stronger than itself?” “Yes, it is a slave.” “How then can any part of the body be still free from hindrance? How can that which is naturally dead—earth and clay—be great or precious? What then? Have you no element of freedom?” “Perhaps none.” “Why, who can compel you to assent to what appears false?” “No one.” “And who to refuse assent to what appears true?” “No one.” “Here, too,
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