Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

This is why it's silly to say, "Give me advice on what to do." What advice should I give you? "Train your mind to handle whatever happens." That's like someone who can't read saying, "Tell me what to write when someone gives me any name." If I tell him to write "Dion," then someone else comes and asks him to write "Theon" instead — what's he going to do? But if you've practiced writing, you're ready to write anything required. If you haven't, what can I possibly suggest? If the situation calls for something else, what will you say or do? Remember this basic rule and you won't need suggestions. But if you chase after external things, you'll have to run around obeying whoever controls them. And who's the master? Whoever has power over the things you're trying to get or avoid.

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Freedom & Control Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

For this reason also it is ridiculous to say, Suggest something to me (tell me what to do). What should I suggest to you? Well, form my mind so as to accommodate itself to any event. Why that is just the same as if a man who is ignorant of letters should say, Tell me what to write when any name is proposed to me. For if I should tell him to write Dion, and then another should come and propose to him not the name of Dion but that of Theon, what will be done? what will he write? But if you have practised writing, you are also prepared to write (or to do) anything that is required. If you are not, what can I now suggest? For if circumstances require something else, what will you say, or what will you do? Remember then this general precept and you will need no suggestion. But if you gape after externals, you must of necessity ramble up and down in obedience to the will of your master. And who is the master? He who has the power over the things which you seek to gain or try to avoid.

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Epictetus — The Slave

But if you want to protect external things too — your fragile body, your small possessions, your reputation — then I suggest you start preparing right now for whatever it takes. Think about who will judge you and who opposes you. If you need to beg on your knees, then beg. If you need to cry, cry. If you need to moan, moan. Once you've made externals your master, then be a complete slave. Don't resist. Don't flip-flop between wanting to be a slave sometimes and free other times. Pick one with your whole mind: either be free or be a slave. Either be wise or ignorant. Either be a noble fighting cock or a worthless one. Either endure being beaten until you die, or give up immediately. Don't let yourself get hit many times and then surrender anyway. But if these choices disgust you, then decide right now: Where do you find good and evil? You find them where truth is. Where truth and nature are, that's where you find wisdom. Where truth is, that's where you find courage.

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Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Epictetus — The Slave Original

But if you wish to maintain externals also, your poor body, your little property, and your little estimation, I advise you to make from this moment all possible preparation, and then consider both the nature of your judge and your adversary. If it is necessary to embrace his knees, embrace his knees; if to weep, weep; if to groan, groan. For when you have subjected to externals what is your own, then be a slave and do not resist, and do not sometimes choose to be a slave, and sometimes not choose, but with all your mind be one or the other, either free or a slave, either instructed or uninstructed, either a well-bred cock or a mean one, either endure to be beaten until you die or yield at once; and let it not happen to you to receive many stripes and then to yield. But if these things are base, determine immediately. Where is the nature of evil and good? It is where truth is: where truth is and where nature is, there is caution: where truth is, there is courage where nature is.

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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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