What should you have ready when facing such situations? This: Know what belongs to you and what doesn't. Know what you're allowed to do and what you're not. I must die. Do I have to die crying about it? I must be chained up. Do I have to cry about that too? I must go into exile. Does anyone stop me from going with a smile, cheerfully and content? "Tell me your secret," they demand. "I won't," you say, "because that's up to me." "But I'll chain you up." What are you talking about? Chain me up? You can shackle my leg, but not even Zeus himself can overpower my will. "I'll throw you in prison." You mean my poor body. "I'll cut your head off." When did I ever tell you that my head can't be cut off? These are the things philosophers should think about. They should write about them daily. They should practice them.
What then should a man have in readiness in such circumstances? What else than this? What is mine, and what is not mine; and what is permitted to me, and what is not permitted to me. I must die. Must I then die lamenting? I must be put in chains. Must I then also lament? I must go into exile. Does any man then hinder me from going with smiles and cheerfulness and contentment? Tell me the secret which you possess. I will not, for this is in my power. But I will put you in chains. Man, what are you talking about? Me, in chains? You may fetter my leg, but my will not even Zeus himself can overpower. I will throw you into prison. My poor body, you mean. I will cut your head off. When then have I told you that my head alone cannot be cut off? These are the things which philosophers should meditate on, which they should write daily, in which they should exercise themselves.