Plain
Epictetus — The Slave

Your body sets the proper limit for what you need to own, just like your foot sets the limit for your shoe size. If you stick to this natural limit, you'll stay balanced. But if you go beyond it, you'll get carried away like falling off a cliff. Think about shoes: once they stop being about fitting your foot, they become gold-plated, then purple, then covered in jewels. Once you abandon the proper measure, there's no stopping point.

The Enchiridion, Section 39 55 of 70
What Matters Most Knowing Yourself
Epictetus — The Slave Original

The body is to everyone the proper measure of its possessions, as the foot is of the shoe. If, therefore, you stop at this, you will keep the measure; but if you move beyond it, you must necessarily be carried forward, as down a precipice; as in the case of a shoe, if you go beyond its fitness to the foot, it comes first to be gilded, then purple, and then studded with jewels. For to that which once exceeds the fit measure there is no bound.

The Enchiridion, Section 39 55 of 70
Epictetus — The Slave

When you walk, you watch out for nails and holes so you don't hurt your foot. Do the same thing with your mind — protect the part of you that makes decisions. If you guard your thinking in everything you do, you'll act more safely.

The Enchiridion, Section 38 54 of 70
Knowing Yourself Calm Your Mind
Epictetus — The Slave Original

As in walking you take care not to tread upon a nail, or turn your foot, so likewise take care not to hurt the ruling faculty of your mind. And if we were to guard against this in every action, we should enter upon action more safely.

The Enchiridion, Section 38 54 of 70
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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