If thou art pained by any external thing, it is not this…
““If thou art pained by any external thing, it is not this thing that disturbs thee, but thy own judgement about it. And it is in thy power to wipe out this judgement now. But if anything in thy own disposition gives thee pain, who hinders thee from correcting thy opinion? And even if thou art pained because thou art not doing some particular thing which seems to thee to be right, why dost thou not rather act than complain?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
External events affect us only through our judgments; we can change those judgments to eliminate suffering.
In simple terms: Suffering comes from how we think, not the events themselves.
Key Takeaway
Control your thoughts to control your pain.
Themes
philosophy
stoicism
self‑control
Mood
reflective
calm
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal crises
- conflict
- stress management
- decision making
Key Concepts
judgment
perception
agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you currently judge painful events?
- What judgment could you change to feel better?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated beliefs can be difficult and may require time.