Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

Replace all other pleasures with this one pleasure: knowing that you are obeying God. Not just in words, but in your actual deeds — acting like a truly wise and good person. What a wonderful thing it is to be able to say to yourself: "Right now, whatever everyone else is saying in their fancy schools — things that sound strange or go against popular opinion — I am actually doing. They sit around talking about my virtues, asking about me, praising me. But Zeus wanted me to prove this to myself. He wanted me to know for myself whether he has the kind of soldier he should have, the kind of citizen he should have. And he chose to put me before the rest of humanity as living proof of what really matters: Look, you worry for no good reason. You foolishly want the wrong things. Don't look for what's good in external things. Look for it in yourselves. If you don't, you'll never find it."

Discourses, That We Ought not to Be Moved by a Desire of Those Things Which Are not in Our Power 294 of 388
Doing The Right Thing Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Then in the place of all other delights substitute this, that of being conscious that you are obeying God, that not in word, but in deed you are performing the acts of a wise and good man. For what a thing it is for a man to be able to say to himself: Now whatever the rest may say in solemn manner in the schools and may be judged to be saying in a way contrary to common opinion (or in a strange way), this I am doing; and they are sitting and are discoursing of my virtues and inquiring about me and praising me; and of this Zeus has willed that I shall receive from myself a demonstration, and shall myself know if he has a soldier such as he ought to have, a citizen such as he ought to have, and if he has chosen to produce me to the rest of mankind as a witness of the things which are independent of the will: See that you fear without reason, that you foolishly desire what you do desire; seek not the good in things external; seek it in yourselves: if you do not, you will not find it.

Discourses, That We Ought not to Be Moved by a Desire of Those Things Which Are not in Our Power 294 of 388
Epictetus — The Slave

When disturbing thoughts start to hurt you — and you can't stop them from coming — fight back with your reasoning. Beat them. Don't let them get stronger or drag you into their consequences by painting whatever pictures they want in your mind. If you're stuck on the island of Gyara, don't fantasize about the good life back in Rome — all the pleasures someone had there, all the pleasures you'd have if you returned. Instead, focus on this: how should a brave person live on Gyara? Live like that. And if you're in Rome, don't daydream about life in Athens. Think only about how to live well in Rome.

Discourses, That We Ought not to Be Moved by a Desire of Those Things Which Are not in Our Power 293 of 388
Calm Your Mind Facing Hardship
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Then, when the appearance (of things) pains you, for it is not in your power to prevent this, contend against it by the aid of reason, conquer it: do not allow it to gain strength nor to lead you to the consequences by raising images such as it pleases and as it pleases. If you be in Gyara, do not imagine the mode of living at Rome, and how many pleasures there were for him who lived there and how many there would be for him who returned to Rome; but fix your mind on this matter, how a man who lives in Gyara ought to live in Gyara like a man of courage. And if you be in Rome, do not imagine what the life in Athens is, but think only of the life in Rome.

Discourses, That We Ought not to Be Moved by a Desire of Those Things Which Are not in Our Power 293 of 388
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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