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[58] Many translations render ἐγκύκλια as "public education", "general education", "culture", and the like; however, the word really means "ordinary" or "quotidian", so that περὶ τὰ ἐγκύκλια means "ordinary matters" or "quotidian concerns". Words for "education" and "culture" (e.g., παιδεία) do not appear in the Greek text of this saying. This is not to say that Epicurus favored the kind of enculturation that was common in ancient Greece (see for instance Vatican Sayings #45 and #46 along with Fragments #117 and #163). [back]

This from Peter Saint-Andre's translation online. The translation in the previous post caught my eye in light of recent discussions. I don't know any Greek and so can't comment further; just adding this for use in tonight's discussion.

Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, ἐγκύκλ-ιος

Peter Saint-Andre’s translation: “They must free themselves from the prison of public affairs and ordinary concerns.”

The Greek text from his site: ἐκλυτέον ἑαυτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ περὶ τὰ ἐγκύκλια καὶ πολιτικὰ δεσμωτηρίου.

Vatican Sayings, by Epicurus