The Enchiridion, Section 12 — In Plain English

Epictetus — The Slave

If you want to get better at life, stop thinking like this: "If I don't take care of business, I'll go broke. If I don't punish my servant, he'll become worthless." It's better to starve to death — free from worry and fear — than to live rich but anxious. It's better for your servant to be bad than for you to be miserable.

So start with small things. Some oil gets spilled or some wine gets stolen? Tell yourself, "This is what I pay for peace of mind. Nothing is free." When you call your servant, remember he might not come. Or if he does come, he might not do what you want. But here's the thing: it's not good for him to have that power over you. And it's terrible for you to let him disturb your peace.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

If you would improve, lay aside such reasonings as these: “If I neglect my affairs, I shall not have a maintenance; if I do not punish my servant, he will be good for nothing.” For it were better to die of hunger, exempt from grief and fear, than to live in affluence with perturbation; and it is better that your servant should be bad than you unhappy.

Begin therefore with little things. Is a little oil spilled or a little wine stolen? Say to yourself, “This is the price paid for peace and tranquillity; and nothing is to be had for nothing.” And when you call your servant, consider that it is possible he may not come at your call; or, if he does, that he may not do what you wish. But it is not at all desirable for him, and very undesirable for you, that it should be in his power to cause you any disturbance.