God has entrusted me with myself. No man is free who is not master of himself. A man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as poss… - Epictetus

The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.

the World turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.

The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going

26. The will of nature may be learned from those things in which we don’t distinguish from each other. For example, when our neighbor’s boy breaks a cup, or the like, we are presently ready to say, “These things will happen.” Be assured, then, that when your own cup likewise is broken, you ought to be affected just as when another’s cup was broken. Apply this in like manner to greater things. Is the child or wife of another dead? There is no one who would not say, “This is a human accident.” but if anyone’s own child happens to die, it is presently, “Alas I how wretched am I!” But it should be remembered how we are affected in hearing the same thing concerning others.

I must die. Must I then die lamenting? I must be put in chains. Must I then also lament? I must go into exile. Does any man then hinder me from going with smiles and cheerfulness and contentment?

Approach life as your own Olympic Games —