A Ship Should Not Be Held By

Neither Should A Ship Rely On One Small Anchor, Nor Should Life Rest On A Single Hope.

When A Man Is Proud Because He Can Understand And Explain The Writings Of Chrysippus, Say To Yourself, 'if Chrysippus Had Not Written Obscurely, This Man Would Have Had Nothing To Be Proud Of.'

As In Walking It Is Your Great Care Not To Run Your Foot Upon A Nail, Or To Tread Awry, And Strain Your Leg; So Let It Be In All The Affairs Of Human Life, Not To Hurt Your Mind Or Offend Your Judgment. And This Rule, If Observed Carefully In All Your Deportment, Will Be A Mighty Security To You In Your Undertakings.

With Ills Unending Strives The Putter Off.

To Epictetus, All External Events Are Determined By Fate, And Are Thus Beyond Our Control, But We Can Accept Whatever Happens Calmly And Dispassionately. Individuals, However, Are Responsible For Their Own Actions Which They Can Examine And Control Through Rigorous Self-discipline. Suffering Arises From Trying To Control What Is Uncontrollable, Or From Neglecting What Is Within Our Power. As Part Of The Universal City That Is The Universe, Human Beings Have A Duty Of Care To All Fellow Humans. The Person Who Followed These Precepts Would Achieve Happiness.