Discourses, To Those Who Are Desirous of Passing Life in Tranquillity

Epictetus — The Slave

Never praise someone for things that everyone can do. Praise them for their principles instead. Those are what truly belong to each person. Those are what make their actions good or bad. Keep these rules in mind. Be happy with what you have right now. Be content with what comes at the right time. If you see something you've learned and studied actually happening in your life, be thrilled about it. If you've gotten rid of bad habits — like being mean to people, losing your temper, using foul language, acting too quickly, or being lazy — celebrate. If things that used to upset you don't bother you anymore, or don't affect you the same way, you can throw yourself a party every day. Today because you handled one situation well. Tomorrow because you handled another well.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

For never commend a man on account of these things which are common to all, but on account of his opinions (principles); for these are the things which belong to each man, which make his actions bad or good. Remembering these rules, rejoice in that which is present, and be content with the things which come in season. If you see anything which you have learned and inquired about occurring to you in your course of life (or opportunely applied by you to the acts of life), be delighted at it. If you have laid aside or have lessened bad disposition and a habit of reviling; if you have done so with rash temper, obscene words, hastiness, sluggishness; if you are not moved by what you formerly were, and not in the same way as you once were, you can celebrate a festival daily, to-day because you have behaved well in one act, and to-morrow because you have behaved well in another.