Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

But my wife treats me badly. Well, if someone asks you what's wrong, just say, "My wife treats me badly." Is there anything more to it than that? No. My father gives me nothing. What is this? My father gives me nothing. Is there anything else to it? No. But calling this an "evil" is something you're adding on top of the facts. And you're adding it falsely. That's why we don't need to get rid of poverty. We need to get rid of our opinion about poverty. Then we'll be happy.

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Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Epictetus — The Slave Original

But my wife treats me badly. Well, if any man asks you what this is, say, my wife treats me badly. Is there then nothing more? Nothing. My father gives me nothing. (What is this? my father gives me nothing. Is there nothing else then? Nothing); but to say that this is an evil is something which must be added to it externally, and falsely added. For this reason we must not get rid of poverty, but of the opinion about poverty, and then we shall be happy.

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Epictetus — The Slave

"May that day never come!" he replied. Then why are you upset if Philostorgus gets something in return for what he sells? How can you call him happy when he gets things through methods you despise? What wrong does Providence do if it gives better things to better people? Isn't it better to be modest than to be rich? He agreed it was. Then why are you upset when you have the better thing? Always remember this truth and keep it ready: it's a law of nature that the superior person has the advantage over the inferior person in whatever makes them superior. If you remember this, you'll never be upset.

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Facing Hardship What Matters Most
Epictetus — The Slave Original

May it never happen, he replied, that this day should come? Why then are you vexed, if he receives something in return for that which he sells; or how can you consider him happy who acquires those things by such means as you abominate; or what wrong does Providence, if he gives the better things to the better men? Is it not better to be modest than to be rich? He admitted this. Why are you vexed then, man, when you possess the better thing? Remember then always and have in readiness the truth, that this is a law of nature, that the superior has an advantage over the inferior in that in which he is superior; and you will never be vexed.

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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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