Published date: 2018
Category: Philosophy
Insight: 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."
Insight: Epictetus recognised the limited value in material things in the world, not only in possessions but also relationships and people.
"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
Insight: Accept things as they are, rather than trying to improve them.
"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
Principle: Distinguish what is within your power from what is not.
"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
Principle: Think about death frequently, and understand mistaken perceptions about the value of worldly things.
"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
Insight: We can be slaves to our desires, even if they are good.
Principle: We should try to eradicate desire.
"we should be satisfied if, by never relaxing our attention, we shall escape at least a few errors."- Epictetus
Insight: Being aware of desires that shape our conduct can help us to not be enslaved by them.