--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is…" description: "\"“Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is anchored; if you go on shore to get water you may along the way amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish, o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/epictetus-413_consider_consider-when-on-a-voyage-your-ship-is-a_2871930.jpg" --- # Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is anchored; if you… ![“Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is anchored; if you go on shore to get water you may along the way amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish, or an onion. However, your thoughts and continual attention ought to be bent towards the ship, waiting for the captain to call on board; you must…” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/epictetus-413_consider_consider-when-on-a-voyage-your-ship-is-a_2871930.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/epictetus-413_consider_consider-when-on-a-voyage-your-ship-is-a_2871930.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/epictetus-413_consider_consider-when-on-a-voyage-your-ship-is-a_2871930.jpg) > ““Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is anchored; if you go on shore to get water you may along the way amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish, or an onion. However, your thoughts and continual attention ought to be bent towards the ship, waiting for the captain to call on board; you must then immediately leave all these things, otherwise you will be thrown into the ship, bound neck and feet like a sheep. So it is with life. If, instead of an onion or a shellfish, you are given a wife or child, that is fine.”” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must keep focus on the primary purpose (the ship) and not be distracted by minor temptations, even if they seem appealing. **In simple terms:** Stay focused on the main goal Key Takeaway Prioritize essential duties over distractions Themes philosophy self‑control focus Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - Work projects - family responsibilities - personal goals Key Concepts Stoicism attention management Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify true priorities? - What distractions frequently derail you? A Different Perspective Life’s demands can overwhelm focus ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider/) [Consider Voyage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider-voyage-3934521/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Shellfish Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shellfish-given-3934520/) [Ship Bound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ship-bound-2774208/) [Stoics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoics/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Voyage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyage/) ## Related quotes > [“I am sailing on a ship bound for life. a line in a song”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-wickham/i-am-sailing-on-a-ship-bound-for-life-a-line-in-a-song/) [Phil Wickham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-wickham/) > [Mystery lies over the sea. Every ship is bound for Thule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson-lynd/mystery-lies-over-the-sea-every-ship-is-bound-for-thule/) [Robert Wilson Lynd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson-lynd/) > [“He had no money or influence here. The clothes on his back were ragged, his moccasins were worn, and he was skeletally thin from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/he-had-no-money-or-influence-here-the-clothes-on-his-back-were-ragged/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [“And as I close this chaotic volume I open again the strange small book from which all Christianity came; and I am again haunted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/and-as-i-close-this-chaotic-volume-i-open-again-the-strange-small/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Great individuals find a way to transform weakness into strength. It’s a rather amazing and even touching feat. They took what should have held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/great-individuals-find-a-way-to-transform-weakness-into-strength-it-s/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“philosophers”—the ancient Stoics—even if they’d never read them.\* They had the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/philosophers-the-ancient-stoics-even-if-they-d-never-read-them-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Stoics follow each other like sheep. Wanting glorification for their nature as to say they think they're cosmological leaders over nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/stoics-follow-each-other-like-sheep-wanting-glorification-for-their/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“The Stoics, by contrast, believed that we are essentially social creatures, with a ‘natural affection’ and ‘affinity’ for all people. 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Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. 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Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? 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