Accepting Quote by Epictetus
“Nothing outside the will can hinder or harm the will; it can only harm itself. If then we accept this, and, when things go amiss, are inclined to blame ourselves, remembering that judgment alone can disturb our peace and constancy, I swear to you by all the gods that we have made progress.”
About This Quote
Source Discourses: Enchiridion, Epictetus, 2nd century CE
The will is self‑governing; external obstacles cannot damage it, only our judgments can disturb inner peace.
In simple terms: The mind controls its peace, not external events.
Key Takeaway
Guard your thoughts to protect inner calm.
Themes
philosophy
resilience
self‑control
Mood
calm
determined
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- Stress management
- personal development
- decision making
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Stoicism
Inner freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- What judgments disturb your peace?
- How can you strengthen your will?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring external realities may lead to denial.
![“[M]ost people offend God by passing judgment on the things others do, especially important people, not knowing the reasons why they are doing what they do; for when one does not know the primary cause of some matter, what conclusions can he draw from it?” quote by Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f45/vincent-de-paul-1676_causes_m-ost-people-offend-god-by-passing-judgm_808254.jpg)
