Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

True respect for the gods comes down to this: think correctly about them. They exist. They govern the universe justly and well. Commit to obeying them, yielding to them, and willingly following them through whatever happens. You're being ruled by perfect wisdom. If you do this, you'll never blame the gods or accuse them of abandoning you. There's only one way to achieve this: stop caring about things outside your control. Make good and evil depend only on what is up to you.

The Enchiridion, Section 31 40 of 70
Freedom & Control Doing The Right Thing
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Be assured that the essence of piety toward the gods lies in this—to form right opinions concerning them, as existing and as governing the universe justly and well. And fix yourself in this resolution, to obey them, and yield to them, and willingly follow them amidst all events, as being ruled by the most perfect wisdom. For thus you will never find fault with the gods, nor accuse them of neglecting you. And it is not possible for this to be affected in any other way than by withdrawing yourself from things which are not within our own power, and by making good or evil to consist only in those which are.

The Enchiridion, Section 31 40 of 70
Epictetus — The Slave

Your duties depend on your relationships. Is someone your father? Then you should care for him, respect him, and take his criticism patiently. But what if he's a bad father? Your natural duty isn't to a good father — it's to a father, period. Is your brother unfair? Keep being fair to him anyway. Don't focus on what he does. Focus on what you need to do to keep your character in line with nature. Another person can't hurt you unless you let them. You only get hurt when you choose to be hurt. Practice this way of thinking with all your relationships — neighbor, fellow citizen, boss. You'll know what your duties are in each case.

The Enchiridion, Section 30 39 of 70
Doing The Right Thing Human Nature
Epictetus — The Slave Original

Duties are universally measured by relations. Is a certain man your father? In this are implied taking care of him, submitting to him in all things, patiently receiving his reproaches, his correction. But he is a bad father. Is your natural tie, then, to a _good_ father? No, but to a father. Is a brother unjust? Well, preserve your own just relation toward him. Consider not what _he_ does, but what _you_ are to do to keep your own will in a state conformable to nature, for another cannot hurt you unless you please. You will then be hurt when you consent to be hurt. In this manner, therefore, if you accustom yourself to contemplate the relations of neighbor, citizen, commander, you can deduce from each the corresponding duties.

The Enchiridion, Section 30 39 of 70
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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