If We Are Not Stupid Or Insincere When We Say That The Good Or Ill Of Man Lies Within His Own Will, And That All Beside Is Nothing To Us, Why Are We Still Troubled?

The appearance of things to the mind is the standard of every action to man.
-- Epictetus (c. 60 AD) -- That we ought not to be angry with Mankind, -- Discourses, Book i, Chap....
In theory there is nothing to hinder our following what we are taugh
but in life there are many things to draw us aside....
Two rules we should always have ready,--that there is nothing good or evil save in the will
and that we are not to lead events, but to follow them....
The essence of good and evil is a certain disposition of the will.
-- Epictetus (c. 60 AD) -- Of Courage, -- Discourses, Book i, Chap. xxix...
Dare to look up to God and say, "Make use of me for the future as Thou wilt.
I am of the same mind; I am one with Thee. I refuse nothing which seems good to Thee....
When one maintains his proper attitude in life, he does not long after externals.
What would you have, O man? -- Epictetus (c. 60 AD) -- Discourses, Book i, Chap. xxi...
Let not another's disobedience to Nature become an ill to you
for you were not born to be depressed and unhappy with others, but to be happy with them....
When you have shut your doors, and darkened your room, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone
but God is within, and your genius is within,--and what need have they of light to see what you are doing?...
Why, then, do you walk as if you had swallowed a ramrod?
-- Epictetus (c. 60 AD) -- Discourses, Book i, Chap. xxi...