Definition: Love of fate.

Insights:

1. Amor fati demands more of us that just acceptance of fate, but acceptance itself is an antidote for regret.

References:

1. Nietzsche: "that one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in all eternity. Not merely to bear what is necessary, still less conceal it... but love it."

Quotes:

"Do not ask things to happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go smoothly."

- Epictetus

"Some things are up to us and others are not. Up to us are opinion, impulse, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is our own action. Not up to us are body, property, reputation, office, and, in a word, whatever is not our own action."

- Epictetus

"Day by day you must keep before your eyes death and exile, and everything that seems terrible, but death above all; and then you will never have any abject thought, or desire anything beyond due measure."

- Epictetus

"Remember that it is not only a desire for riches and power that makes you abject and subservient to others but also a desire for quiet and leisure, and travel and learning. For the value you place on an external object, whatever it may be, makes you subservient to another."

- Epictetus

"we should be satisfied if, by never relaxing our attention, we shall escape at least a few errors."

- Epictetus

Insights:

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy founder Aaron Beck was influenced by stoicism and Epictetus and the notion that "People are disturbed not by things, but by the views they take of things."
2. Epictetus recognised the limited value in material things in the world, not only in possessions but also relationships and people.
3. We can be slaves to our desires, even if they are good.
4. Being aware of desires that shape our conduct can help us to not be enslaved by them.

Principles:

1. Distinguish what is within your power from what is not.
2. Accept things as they are, rather than trying to improve them.
3. Think about death frequently, and understand mistaken perceptions about the value of worldly things.
4. We should try to eradicate desire.