Things themselves don't matter — but how you use them does. So how do you stay steady and calm while still being careful? Don't be reckless, but don't be careless either. Think of people playing dice. The game pieces don't matter. The dice don't matter. You can't control what numbers come up. But using whatever you roll skillfully and cleverly — that's your job. Life works the same way. Your main task is this: separate things clearly and say: 'External things are not in my power. My will is in my power.' Where should you look for good and bad? Inside yourself, in the things that are truly yours. But in things that don't belong to you, call nothing good or bad, helpful or harmful, or anything like that.
Things themselves (materials) are indifferent; but the use of them is not indifferent. How then shall a man preserve firmness and tranquillity, and at the same time be careful and neither rash nor negligent? If he imitates those who play at dice. The counters are indifferent; the dice are indifferent. How do I know what the cast will be? But to use carefully and dexterously the cast of the dice, this is my business. Thus then in life also the chief business is this: distinguish and separate things, and say: Externals are not in my power: will is in my power. Where shall I seek the good and the bad? Within, in the things which are my own. But in what does not belong to you call nothing either good or bad, or profit or damage or anything of the kind.