Chapter IV
1. Nor have any object in themselves.—Readers of Lotze will be reminded of the term Fürsichseinheit, used by him to denote the self-centered quality of true Being. The Greek here is οὐκ ἀυτὰ προηγούμενα, προηγούμενα, being the word used in Bk. I. viii. 13, and Bk. III. v. 5, for the leading objects or obligations of man.
2. Would that I had you with me!—In Long’s translation the pronoun you is explained to mean God. I can see no reason for this interpretation. The words are, I think, supposed to be uttered by a disciple to his master: they are such as Epictetus may have heard from many of his own disciples as they left him to take their part in the world of action.
3. Cautious assent—i. e., caution in allowing oneself to entertain the impressions of appearances.