Although Simplicius called them Diatribai (Διατριβαί, Discourses),[1] other writers gave them titles such as Dialexis (Διαλέξεις, Talks),[2] Apomnêmoneumata (Ἀπομνημονεύματα, Records),[3] and Homiliai (Ὁμιλίαι, Conversations).

[4] The modern name comes from the titles given in the earliest medieval manuscript: "Arrian's Diatribai of Epictetus" (Greek: Ἀρριανοῦ τῶν Ἐπικτήτου Διατριβῶν).

[10] The precise method Arrian used to write the Discourses has long been a matter of vigorous debate.

[11] The mainstream opinion is that the Discourses report the actual words of Epictetus, even if they cannot be a pure verbatim record.

Long writes: More likely, perhaps, he [Arrian] made his own detailed notes and used his memory to fill them out.

However Arrian actually compiled the discourses, there are numerous reasons, internal to the text, for taking the gist of his record to be completely authentic to Epictetus' own style and language.

[12]The Discourses are set in Epictetus' own classroom in Nicopolis and they show him conversing with visitors, and reproving, exhorting, and encouraging his pupils.

[10] These pupils appear to have been young men like Arrian, of high social position and contemplating entering the public service.

[14] They dwell on points which Epictetus regarded as of special importance, and which gave him an opportunity for friendly discourse with his pupils and to discuss their personal affairs.

[18] Avoidance of the bad, desire for the good, the direction towards the appropriate, and the ability to assent or dissent, this is the mark of the philosopher.

[18] Scholars disagree on whether these three fields relate to the traditional Stoic division of philosophy into Logic, Physics, and Ethics.

[16] Here our concern is to assent to the true impression, reject the false, and suspend judgment regarding the uncertain.

[15] Each human being is in the first instance a citizen of one's own nation or commonwealth; but we are also a member of the great city of gods and people.

[21] The shortcomings of our fellow people are to be met with patience and charity, and we should not allow ourselves to grow indignant over them, for they too are a necessary element in the universal system.

[21] In virtue of our rationality we are neither less nor worse than the gods, for the magnitude of reason is estimated not by length nor by height but by its judgments.

[15] The person who recognizes that every event is necessary and reasonable for the best interest of the whole, feels no discontent with anything outside the control of moral purpose.

[24][25] It is thought that the Bodleian manuscript may be a copy of one owned by Arethas of Caesarea in the early 10th century.

[26] Arethas was an important collector of manuscripts and he is also responsible for transmitting a copy of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.

It influenced later translations: e.g. those of Higginson and George Long (see his Introduction for comments, some critical of Carter).