Today’s featured antique book is The Moral Discourses of Epictetus translated by Elizabeth Carter, circa the early 1900s. This book features one of the most ornate title pages I have ever seen.
Epictetus was a Greek philosopher who taught that philosophy was not just a theoretical discipline, but also a way of life.
Rather small size.Endpapers that signify this is from “The Everyman’s Library.”The “Everyman’s Library” series was first published in 1906 by the J.M. Dent and Company. Nowadays, Random House publishes the series, which features hardcover reprints of classics.
The “RLK 1905” signature was for Reginald L. Knowles, a prominent turn-of-the-century book designer and illustrator who frequently collaborated with his brother, Horace.Elizabeth Carter was an 18th-century scholar from England. She was a poet, and had mastered many classical languages.
The full quote by 17th-century writer, philosopher, and clergyman, Joseph Glanvill is, “The sages of old live again in us, and in opinions there is a metempsychosis.” Metempsychosis is a term used mostly in Ancient Greek philosophy to refer to the transmigration of the soul after death.
A few quotes attributed to Epictetus to ponder:
“Only the educated are free.”
“First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.”
“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”
