My Ear-Trumpet Has Been Struck By Lightning

"Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions."

— Epictetus, The Enchiridion (via neon-cough)

"Epictetus presents us with the image of Zeus as an athletic coach: ‘It is difficulties that show what men are. Consequently, when a difficulty befalls, remember that God, like a physical trainer, has matched you with a rugged young man.’ Why do this? To toughen and strengthen you, so you can become ‘an Olympic victor’ — in other words, so you can have the best life possible. Seneca, by the way, argued along similar lines: God, he said, ‘does not make a spoiled pet of a good man. He tests him, hardens him, and fits him for his own service.’ In particular, the adversities we experience count as ‘mere training,’ and ‘those things which we all shudder and tremble at are for the good of the persons themselves to whom they come’."

— William B Irvine, A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy (via zerogate)

"If, therefore, you wish not to be hot-tempered, do not feed your habit, set before it nothing on which it can grow. As the first step, keep quiet and count the days on which you have not been angry… . If you go as much as thirty days without a fit of anger, sacrifice to God. For the habit is first weakened and then utterly destroyed."

— Epictetus, Enchiridion (via radicaltraditionalism)

"If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say, “He obviously does not know me very well, since there are so many other faults he could have mentioned."

— Epictetus (via fathershane)

(via perstephsanscouronne)