Principle 17 · from the Enchiridion
Play your part well
You may not choose your starting circumstances. Consider how to act responsibly now and what you can work to change.
Source passage (English)
The passage is shown in English. The explanation and example below are modern interpretations for this site.
Remember that you are an actor in a drama, of such a kind as the author pleases to make it. If short, of a short one; if long, of a long one. If it is his pleasure you should act a poor man, a cripple, a governor, or a private person, see that you act it naturally. For this is your business, to act well the character assigned you; to choose it is another's.
What this means
Epictetus compares life to a play. We do not choose the whole script or our starting role. We do have some say in how we perform the part we have been given.
We make life heavier when we keep rejecting our own role while someone else's looks better. Epictetus brings the attention back to our part: handle the role in front of you as well as you can.
That does not mean giving up on changing your situation. It means your character does not have to wait for better conditions. Ask, "Given where I am now, how do I want to carry this part?"
Treat the role as a starting situation rather than a permanent verdict about where you belong. Doing it responsibly may include discussing unfair expectations or preparing to leave. You can fulfill a present commitment while working toward a different role; accepting the starting point does not settle the whole story.
An everyday example
You expected a leadership role but are given support work instead. It is disappointing, and your ego has plenty to say about it.
You still do the role well while working on what can be improved. Another opportunity may come, or it may not. The quality of your work today is still yours to choose.
Reflection Question
What role are you quietly resisting right now? What is one part of it you could handle better?