--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do nothing in a depressed mood, nor as…" description: "\"Do nothing in a depressed mood, nor as one afflicted, nor as thinking that you are in misery, for no one compels you to that.\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/epictetus-413_depressed_do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-on_2627303.jpg" --- # Do nothing in a depressed mood, nor as one afflicted, nor… ![“Do nothing in a depressed mood, nor as one afflicted, nor as thinking that you are in misery, for no one compels you to that.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/epictetus-413_depressed_do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-on_2627303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/epictetus-413_depressed_do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-on_2627303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/epictetus-413_depressed_do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-on_2627303.jpg) > “Do nothing in a depressed mood, nor as one afflicted, nor as thinking that you are in misery, for no one compels you to that.” [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. Depressed moods should not dictate in; personal agency overrides suffering. **In simple terms:** Don’t act on depression. Key Takeaway Choose actions despite mood. Themes philosophy self-control resilience Mood calm steady Type philosophical self-help When to use this quote - personal crises - mental health coping - decision making Key Concepts stoicism agency Questions to Reflect On - How to maintain agency in low mood? - What habits support resilience? A Different Perspective Mood can impair judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) [Depressed Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed-mood-2159592/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood/) [Mood Afflicted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood-afflicted-2159593/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-misery-729446/) ## Related quotes > [I hate being in a sad depressed mood for no reason...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-being-in-a-sad-depressed-mood-for-no-reason/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“thinking about the misery of the world is a favourite contemporary occupation. and if you can't think the television set will think for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/thinking-about-the-misery-of-the-world-is-a-favourite-contemporary/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“How can thinking about the misery of others help if you’re miserable yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/how-can-thinking-about-the-misery-of-others-help-if-you-re-miserable/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [“Perhaps my depression coincided with the start of every academic year and the subsequent increase in my workload. Or maybe there was a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gask/perhaps-my-depression-coincided-with-the-start-of-every-academic-year/) [Linda Gask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gask/) > [I suffer depression only in the sense that I am a writer. We don't have proper jobs to go to. We are on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/i-suffer-depression-only-in-the-sense-that-i-am-a-writer-we-don-t/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [I've definitely had times in my life where I've been depressed and not able to do anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-ve-definitely-had-times-in-my-life-where-i-ve-been-depressed-and/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [Life is to short to being living with stress I'm to young to be all depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-to-short-to-being-living-with-stress-i-m-to-young-to-be-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im not depressed. Just stressed and confused. Im not happy at all. I smile sometimes. And I laugh most times. I honestly dont know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-not-depressed-just-stressed-and-confused-im-not-happy-at-all-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [For me being depressed means you can spend all day in bed, and still not get a good night's rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/for-me-being-depressed-means-you-can-spend-all-day-in-bed-and-still/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [I'm hurt all the time. I don't want to cry for the way I feel inside. I just want someone to hold me... I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-hurt-all-the-time-i-don-t-want-to-cry-for-the-way-i-feel-inside-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was always very depressed, even when I was a youngster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/i-was-always-very-depressed-even-when-i-was-a-youngster/) [Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [I get very anti-social, depressed and irritable with people. I don't have time for them. I can't make phone calls and stuff. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/i-get-very-anti-social-depressed-and-irritable-with-people-i-don-t/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. 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? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More Depressed quotes > [I get very anti-social, depressed and irritable with people. I don't have time for them. I can't make phone calls and stuff. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/i-get-very-anti-social-depressed-and-irritable-with-people-i-don-t/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I was always very depressed, even when I was a youngster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/i-was-always-very-depressed-even-when-i-was-a-youngster/) [Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/) > [I'm hurt all the time. I don't want to cry for the way I feel inside. I just want someone to hold me... I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-hurt-all-the-time-i-don-t-want-to-cry-for-the-way-i-feel-inside-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me being depressed means you can spend all day in bed, and still not get a good night's rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/for-me-being-depressed-means-you-can-spend-all-day-in-bed-and-still/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [Im not depressed. Just stressed and confused. Im not happy at all. I smile sometimes. And I laugh most times. I honestly dont know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-not-depressed-just-stressed-and-confused-im-not-happy-at-all-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is to short to being living with stress I'm to young to be all depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-to-short-to-being-living-with-stress-i-m-to-young-to-be-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've definitely had times in my life where I've been depressed and not able to do anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-ve-definitely-had-times-in-my-life-where-i-ve-been-depressed-and/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I got really depressed when Sidney Moncrief lost to Larry Bird. That really depressed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-got-really-depressed-when-sidney-moncrief-lost-to-larry-bird-that/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I got into the music business thinking it was really radical, that it wasn't really a business at all, that it was a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-got-into-the-music-business-thinking-it-was-really-radical-that-it/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I was depressed. I knew I was lost, but I had no idea how to find myself again. It was as though I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/i-was-depressed-i-knew-i-was-lost-but-i-had-no-idea-how-to-find/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [Everything that gave her pleasure was small and depressed him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/everything-that-gave-her-pleasure-was-small-and-depressed-him/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [If I don't do high-intensity interval training classes for an hour every morning and yoga a few days a week, I get depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davinia-taylor/if-i-don-t-do-high-intensity-interval-training-classes-for-an-hour/) [Davinia Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davinia-taylor/) [Browse all 1,033 Depressed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do nothing in a depressed mood, nor as one afflicted, nor as thinking that you are in misery, for no one compels you to that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-one-afflicted-nor-as-thinking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Depressed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-one-afflicted-nor-as-thinking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/epictetus-413_depressed_do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-on_2627303.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/epictetus-413_depressed_do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-on_2627303.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/epictetus-413_depressed_do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-on_2627303.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do nothing in a depressed mood, nor as one afflicted, nor as thinking that you are in misery, for no one…” — Epictetus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Epictetus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Do nothing in a depressed mood,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-one-afflicted-nor-as-thinking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-nothing-in-a-depressed-mood-nor-as-one-afflicted-nor-as-thinking/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```