Epictetus, a Greek sage and Stoic philosopher, was born a slave circa 55 AD in what would be present-day Turkey. He spoke of the Golden Rule in terms of earthly enslavement: “What you do not want to suffer, do not attempt to make others suffer. You avoid enslavement; make sure then to make no one your slave.” This is easier said than done, especially in the climate of “earthly enslavement” in which we all now dwell. Harder still is to recognize that we are all slaves to the desire to be our own God. And from this no rule can ever free us.
Heather Choate Davis 