Top Highlights

• There are things within our power, and there are things beyond our power. Within our power are our opinion, aim, desire, dislikes, and, in summary, whatever is our own. Beyond our power is property, reputation, duties, and, in summary, whatever is not ours.
• if you take only those things which are truly your own and view what belongs to others as it really is, then no one can control you, no one can restrict you; you will find fault with no one, you will accuse no one, you will do nothing against your own will; no one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you won’t suffer any harm.
• say to every unpleasing resemblance, “You are only a resemblance of truth and are not the real thing.” And then examine, using the rules you have; but first by this: whether it concerns the things which are within our own power or those which are not; and if it concerns anything beyond our power, be prepared to say that it is not something you requ...
• remove the habit of avoidance from all things that are not within our power, and apply it to things which are undesirable and which are within our power. But for the present, completely restrain desire; because if you desire any of the things not within our own power, you will eventually be disappointed; and we can’t even be sure of the things whic...
• So it is basically a necessity for us not to pursue or to avoid anything,