Everyone would read with greater ease and pleasure a book written in a legible hand. And so it is with a speech: everyone would listen with greater ease to one composed in well-wrought and well- organized prose. [2] So we must not say that there is no such thing as a faculty of expression. That would mark us out as lazy as well as ungrateful – ungrateful, because it scorns God’s gifts, just the same as if one were to deny the value of the power of sight, of hearing, or of speech itself.
Discourses 2.23.1
Today’s meditation
The underlying Stoic issue in this passage is the importance of cultivating one's faculties and appreciating the gifts we have been given. As Epictetus notes, "everyone would read with greater ease and pleasure a book written in a legible hand" (Discourses 2.23.1). This suggests that we should strive to develop our skills and abilities, making them as clear and effective as possible, just like a well-written book.
This passage reveals that living well involves being mindful of the gifts we have been given, whether they be our faculties, talents, or opportunities. It encourages us to cultivate these gifts, rather than neglecting or scorning them. As Epictetus warns, denying the value of our faculties would be "ungrateful, because it scorns God's gifts" (Discourses 2.23.2).
To apply this insight today, one might reflect on their own abilities and talents, and consider how they can be developed and used to live a more effective and virtuous life. This could involve practicing a skill, seeking feedback from others, or simply being more mindful of how they use their time and energy. By cultivating their faculties and appreciating the gifts they have been given, someone can live a more intentional and fulfilling life.
As you go about your day, you might ask yourself: What gifts or faculties have I been neglecting or taking for granted, and how can I begin to cultivate them today?