Discourses, About Freedom — In Plain English

Epictetus — The Slave

What else have you been studying from the beginning? You've been learning to tell the difference between what's yours and what isn't. What's in your power and what isn't. What can be stopped and what can't. Why did you come to the philosophers? Was it so you could still be miserable and unhappy? If you've done what I've described, you'll be without fear and worry. And what is grief to you? Fear comes from what you expect to happen. Grief comes from what's happening right now. But what more will you want? You have proper, controlled desire for the good things that are within your power of choice. You don't desire anything that's outside your power of choice. So you don't make room for anything irrational, impatient, or overly hasty.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

and what else have you been studying from the beginning than to distinguish between your own and not your own, the things which are in your power and not in your power, the things subject to hindrance and not subject? and why have you come to the philosophers? was it that you may nevertheless be unfortunate and unhappy? You will then in this way, as I have supposed you to have done, be without fear and disturbance. And what is grief to you? for fear comes from what you expect, but grief from that which is present. But what further will you desire? For of the things which are within the power of the will, as being good and present, you have a proper and regulated desire; but of the things which are not in the power of the will you do not desire any one, and so you do not allow any place to that which is irrational, and impatient, and above measure hasty.