Epictetus Enchiridion
Epictetus: It is a mark of want of genius to spend much…
It is a mark of want of genius to spend much time in things relating to the body, as to be long in our exercises, in eating and drinking, and in the discharge of other animal functions. These should be done incidentally and slightly, and our whole attention be engaged in the care of the understanding.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of the Enchiridion. The reading beside it is ours.
Your body needs care, but it should not become your full-time occupation. Exercise, food, sleep, grooming, and health all matter. The trap is letting them consume the attention that ought to go toward judgment, character, and the use of your time. You can spend an hour comparing supplements, tracking every calorie, or perfecting a workout photo while neglecting the difficult conversation you need to have or the work you promised to finish. The body is a tool, not the purpose of the life using it. Take care of it efficiently: move it, feed it reasonably, rest it, and attend to real medical needs. Then return your best energy to what only your mind can do—choose well, learn, serve, and meet hardship with steadiness. Today, notice whether bodily maintenance is helping you live or quietly replacing the work of living.
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