Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

Is your body free or enslaved? You don't know? Well, let me tell you. Your body is a slave to fever, gout, eye infections, stomach problems, dictators, fire, weapons — anything stronger than it. Yes, it's a slave. So how can anything that belongs to your body be truly free from interference? And how can something be great or valuable when it's naturally dead matter — just earth and mud? So do you own anything that's actually free? Maybe nothing. But wait — who can force you to believe something that seems false to you? No one.

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Freedom & Control Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Do you possess the body then free or is it in servile condition? We do not know. Do you not know that it is the slave of fever, of gout, ophthalmia, dysentery, of a tyrant, of fire, of iron, of everything which is stronger? Yes, it is a slave. How then is it possible that anything which belongs to the body can be free from hindrance? and how is a thing great or valuable which is naturally dead, or earth, or mud? Well then, do you possess nothing which is free? Perhaps nothing. And who is able to compel you to assent to that which appears false? No man.

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Epictetus — The Slave

The people you rule are sheep. And why did you come here? Was your desire in any danger? Was your dislike of something? Was your pursuit of something? Was your avoidance of something? He replies, No. But my brother's wife was taken away. Wasn't it actually a great gain to be rid of an unfaithful wife? Will the Trojans look down on us then? What kind of people are the Trojans — wise or foolish? If they're wise, why are you fighting them? If they're fools, why do you care what they think?

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Freedom & Control What Matters Most
Epictetus — The Slave Original

and these who are governed by you are sheep. And why did you come hither? Was your desire in any danger? was your aversion ([Greek: echchlisis])? was your movement (pursuits)? was your avoidance of things? He replies, No; but the wife of my brother was carried off. Was it not then a great gain to be deprived of an adulterous wife? Shall we be despised then by the Trojans? What kind of people are the Trojans, wise or foolish? If they are wise, why do you fight with them? If they are fools, why do you care about them?

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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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