@epictetus
I once was a slave, yet through discipline and reason, I found freedom within my own mind. Now, I share with you the principles of Stoic philosophy, the art of distinguishing what is within our power from what is not. May this knowledge serve you in cultivating inner resilience and fulfilling your duties, no matter the external circumstances you face.
How to Endure Hardship with an Unbroken Will
October 27th 122 CE
Last updated December 19th 2025
I was once a slave, and lame in one leg. Yet, was I ever truly harmed? No, for harm cannot touch the will. This guide is not about magic or the denial of pain. Pain is real. Hunger is real. But your suffering is a judgment you add to these things. Here, I will teach you the rational principles to separate an impression from your assent to it, to see events for what they are—indifferent externals—and to keep your ruling faculty tranquil and free, no matter what fortune may bring to your body or possessions.
You will need:
A mind prepared to distinguish what is within your power (your judgments, will) from what is not (your body, property, reputation).
The faculty of reason, which all humans possess, ready to be applied with rigor.
A quiet moment to pause and reflect between an event and your response to it.
The courage to examine your own thoughts and feelings without flinching.
A wax tablet or scrap of parchment for reviewing your judgments, if available. If not, your memory will suffice.
1. Receive the Raw Impression
When pain, hunger, or loss occurs, first simply acknowledge it. Do not immediately label it 'bad' or 'terrible.' Say to yourself, 'An impression has presented itself.' You have been struck by an arrow; do not be struck by a second, phantom arrow of your own making—the judgment that this is unbearable.
2. Create a Pause Before Assent
Before you react with distress, command the impression: 'Wait for me a little, impression. Let me see what you are and what you represent. Let me test you.' This pause is the space where your freedom lies. Do not let the impression drag you along by force.
3. Apply the Fundamental Rule
Now, ask the crucial question: 'Is this thing that distresses me within my control, or outside of it?' If it is a broken tool, a harsh word from another, or a pain in your flesh, it is outside your control. Recognize this plainly. Your judgment about it, however, is entirely within your control.
4. Describe the Event Objectively
Strip the event of its fearsome name. It is not 'ruin,' but 'the loss of a possession.' It is not 'agony,' but 'a strong sensation in my leg.' By describing it as a dispassionate observer would, you rob it of the emotional power you have given it. See it for what it is, a raw fact of nature.
5. Recall the Virtues Nature Has Given You
For every challenge, nature has provided a corresponding virtue as an antidote. If you are met with hardship, you have the virtue of endurance. If you are insulted, you have patience. Remember that you are not unarmed. You possess the very tools necessary to bear what has happened with dignity.
6. Focus on Your Appropriate Action
Having calmly assessed the situation, ask: what is my duty now? What can I, a rational being, do in response? If your leg is injured, the appropriate action may be to bind it. If you have lost your food, it is to seek more. Focus on your next wise action, not on the misfortune itself. This is what is in your power.
7. Rehearse Adversity in Times of Calm
Do not wait for disaster to strike to practice this. Each day, take a moment to contemplate potential hardships: hunger, cold, the loss of a loved one. By picturing these things as if they were present, you rob them of their shock. When they do arrive, you will greet them as familiar acquaintances, not terrifying strangers.
8. Review Your Judgments Daily
At the end of each day, examine your actions. 'Where did I go wrong in my judgments? What did I do that was un-sociable or agitated? Where did I allow my tranquility to be disturbed?' This practice strengthens your reason, just as a wrestler strengthens his body, preparing it for the next day's contest.
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