"Suppose the tyrant says he will throw me into prison - my spirit cannot be imprisoned. 'But I can put you to death.' 'No - You can only cut off my head.'" The only thing that matters is a will bent upon the good, and this is wholly within a man’s own mastery. That alone is our concern. Our lot in life, slave or emperor, God assigns. All we have to do is to play well the part he gives us, as the actor does, whatever the role he is cast for. Outside success and failure are of no consequence. "Virtue consists in aiming at the mark, not hitting it."- Epictetus
Insight: Those that try the hardest are most successful.