Adopted Quote by Epictetus
“What hurts this person is not the occurrence itself, for another person might not feel oppressed by this situation at all. What is hurting this person is the response he or she has uncritically adopted. It is not a demonstration of kindness or friendship to the people we care about to join them in indulging in wrongheaded, negative feelings.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Discourses, Book II, Chapter 2
The pain comes from unexamined reactions, not the event itself; we must question our emotional responses.
In simple terms: Pain is from our own reactions, not events.
Key Takeaway
Examine and reframe your responses.
Themes
self-awareness
emotional intelligence
philosophy
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal conflict
- social interactions
- mental health
- relationship counseling
Key Concepts
Stoicism
cognitive appraisal
Questions to Reflect On
- What unexamined belief fuels your reaction?
- How can you practice critical self‑reflection?
A Different Perspective
Responses can be hard to change without support.
