Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

You deserve to feel miserable — more miserable than crows and ravens. At least they can fly wherever they want, change their homes, and cross oceans without crying about what they left behind. But wait — that's because they're just dumb animals. Did the gods give us reason so we could be unhappy and miserable? So we could spend our lives feeling wretched and crying? Should everyone live forever? Should no one ever travel? Should we stay planted in one spot like trees? And when a friend leaves town, should we sit around weeping? Then when they come back, should we jump up and down clapping like little kids?

Discourses, That We Ought not to Be Moved by a Desire of Those Things Which Are not in Our Power 281 of 388
Calm Your Mind Human Nature
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Indeed you deserve this, to be more wretched than crows and ravens who have the power of flying where they please and changing their nests for others, and crossing the seas without lamenting or regretting their former condition. Yes, but this happens to them because they are irrational creatures. Was reason then given to us by the gods for the purpose of unhappiness and misery, that we may pass our lives in wretchedness and lamentation? Must all persons be immortal and must no man go abroad, and must we ourselves not go abroad, but remain rooted like plants; and if any of our familiar friends goes abroad, must we sit and weep; and on the contrary, when he returns, must we dance and clap our hands like children?

Discourses, That We Ought not to Be Moved by a Desire of Those Things Which Are not in Our Power 281 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

Don't let someone else's unnatural behavior become your problem. You weren't made to feel depressed or unhappy because of what others do. You were made to be happy with them. If someone is miserable, remember that their misery is their own fault. God made everyone to be happy and free from worry. He gave us the tools for this. Some things belong to each person. Other things don't belong to them. Some things can be blocked, forced, or taken away — these don't truly belong to anyone. But the things that can't be hindered — those belong to you. And your understanding of good and evil? God made that yours too. He did this because he cares for us and protects us like a father.

Discourses, That We Ought not to Be Moved by a Desire of Those Things Which Are not in Our Power 280 of 388
Freedom & Control Calm Your Mind
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Let not that which in another is contrary to nature be an evil to you; for you are not formed by nature to be depressed with others nor to be unhappy with others, but to be happy with them. If a man is unhappy, remember that his unhappiness is his own fault; for God has made all men to be happy, to be free from perturbations. For this purpose he has given means to them, some things to each person as his own, and other things not as his own; some things subject to hindrance and compulsion and deprivation; and these things are not a man's own; but the things which are not subject to hindrances, are his own; and the nature of good and evil, as it was fit to be done by him who takes care of us and protects us like a father, he has made our own.

Discourses, That We Ought not to Be Moved by a Desire of Those Things Which Are not in Our Power 280 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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