Epictetus Enchiridion
Epictetus: Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is…
Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is anchored; if you go on shore to get water you may along the way amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish, or an onion.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of the Enchiridion. The reading beside it is ours.
This image continues with a ship that may call you back at any moment. You can enjoy the shells and small diversions on shore, but you must not become so absorbed that you refuse the summons. Life offers plenty of pleasant side activities: a hobby, a purchase, a social event, a scrolling habit, even a career ambition. None is wrong in itself. The trouble begins when the side pursuit becomes more important than the duty or relationship it was meant to fit around. You go out for a quick break and lose the whole evening. You chase another achievement and miss the person asking for your attention. Enjoy what is in front of you, but hold it lightly. Keep one part of your mind awake to the larger call: your responsibilities, your values, and the fact that circumstances can change quickly. Pleasure is best when it does not make you unavailable to life.
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