Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

Who can force you to avoid what you don't think you should avoid? But you might say, "The judge will rule against me in something terrible." Fine, but can the judge also force you to suffer while you try to avoid it? No. When going after things and avoiding things are under your control, what else matters? Let this be your opening statement, your story, your proof, your victory, your closing argument, your applause.

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Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Epictetus — The Slave Original

who shall compel you to avoid what you do not think fit to avoid? But what do you say? The judge will determine against you something that appears formidable; but that you should also suffer in trying to avoid it, how can he do that? When then the pursuit of objects and the avoiding of them are in your power, what else do you care for? Let this be your preface, this your narrative, this your confirmation, this your victory, this your peroration, this your applause (or the approbation which you will receive).

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Epictetus — The Slave

Think about this, you who are heading to court: what do you want to defend and what do you want to win? If you want to defend a will that follows nature, you have complete security. You have every advantage. You have no troubles. If you want to defend what's in your own power and naturally free, and if you're satisfied with these things, what else matters? Who controls such things? Who can take them away? If you choose to be modest and faithful, who can stop you? If you choose not to be held back or forced, who can make you desire what you think you shouldn't desire?

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Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Consider, you who are going into court, what you wish to maintain and what you wish to succeed in. For if you wish to maintain a will conformable to nature, you have every security, every facility, you have no troubles. For if you wish to maintain what is in your own power and is naturally free, and if you are content with these, what else do you care for? For who is the master of such things? Who can take them away? If you choose to be modest and faithful, who shall not allow you to be so? If you choose not to be restrained or compelled, who shall compel you to desire what you think that you ought not to desire?

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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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