“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.”
What this quote means
Epictetus draws a fundamental distinction between what is up to us and what is not. Our opinions, desires, and actions are in our power, while our body, reputation, and external circumstances are not. This Stoic wisdom frees us from anxiety by focusing on what we can control and accepting the rest. It encourages us to take responsibility for our inner life and not to be shaken by what is beyond our mastery.
How to apply it daily
Make a list of your current concerns. Sort them into two columns: what you control and what you don't. Focus your energy on the first column.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Epictetus?
Our starting point
A short, practical first approach
Enchiridion
In a few pages, it sets out the central distinction between what depends on us and what does not.
- Level
- Accessible
- Reading time
- 1–2 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
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