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The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.

Epictetus

Wisdom means understanding without any doubt that circumstances do not rise to meet our expectations. Events happen as they may. People behave as they will.
EPICTETUS

Behaviour Circumstance Expectation People Understand Wisdom
It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.
EPICTETUS

Attitude Insult Let Go Opinion Philosophy Strike
Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.
EPICTETUS

Control Freedom Goals Life Win Worth
Events do not just happen, but arrive by appointment.
EPICTETUS

Appointment Arrive Business Event Happen
Ruin and recovering are both from within.
EPICTETUS

Believe Healing One Liner Recover Ruin
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
EPICTETUS

Essense Happiness Inspirational Man Philosophy Possible
It is more necessary for the soul to be cured than the body; for it is better to die than to live badly.
EPICTETUS

Body Cure Die Live Necessary Soul
If you seek Truth, you will not seek to gain a victory by every possible means; and when you have found Truth, you need not fear being defeated.
EPICTETUS

Defeat Fear Gain Seek Truth Victory
Give me by all means the shorter and nobler life, instead of one that is longer but of less account!
EPICTETUS

Account Giving Inspirational Life Positive
In trying to please other people, we find ourselves misdirected toward what lies outside our sphere of influence. In doing so, we lose our hold on our lifes purpose.
EPICTETUS

Goals Influence Lie Life Please Purpose
When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it; you can either accept it or resent it.
EPICTETUS

Acceptance Attitude Happen Ignorance Power
In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; but in adversity it is the most difficult of all things.
EPICTETUS

Adversity Difficult Finding Friendship Prosperity
We can’t control the impressions others form about us, and the effort to do so only debases our character.
EPICTETUS

Character Control Effort Impression
Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself.
EPICTETUS

Moments Patience Reaction Situation Try Yourself
The people have a right to the truth as they have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
EPICTETUS

Happiness Liberty Life People Right Truth
The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
EPICTETUS

Difficult Motivational Pilot Reputation Skill Storm

The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.

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The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.

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