--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not so much what happens to you as…" description: "\"It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens.\" Epictetus\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/epictetus-413_epictetus_it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as_2886970.jpg" --- # It is not so much what happens to you as how you think… ![“It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens." Epictetus” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/epictetus-413_epictetus_it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as_2886970.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/epictetus-413_epictetus_it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as_2886970.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/epictetus-413_epictetus_it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as_2886970.jpg) > “It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens." Epictetus” [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. Our perception of events shapes their impact, not the events themselves. **In simple terms:** Perception shapes reality. Key Takeaway Reframe thoughts about events. Themes philosophy mindset resilience Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - stress management - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts cognitive appraisal stoicism mental framing Questions to Reflect On - What thoughts can you reframe today? - How does perception affect your emotions? A Different Perspective Changing mindset can be difficult without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epictetus/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Stoicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoicism/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as-how-you-think-about-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” - Epictetus By”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-martine/it-s-not-what-happens-to-you-but-how-you-react-to-it-that-matters/) Ali Martine > [“What would Heracles have been if he had said, "How am I to prevent a big lion from appearing, or a big boar, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-would-heracles-have-been-if-he-had-said-how-am-i-to-prevent-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Death is something that happens to others, you think, until it happens to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/death-is-something-that-happens-to-others-you-think-until-it-happens/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [“Loving your fate and joyful acceptance Epictetus actually describes a three-stage process to his students, which relates to the discipline of desire. He begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-j-robertson/loving-your-fate-and-joyful-acceptance-epictetus-actually-describes-a/) [Donald J. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-j-robertson/) > [“The willing are led by fate, the reluctant are dragged.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleanthes-of-assos/the-willing-are-led-by-fate-the-reluctant-are-dragged/) Cleanthes of Assos > [“Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."   - Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-crosby/circumstances-don-t-make-the-man-they-only-reveal-him-to-himself-2/) [Dennis Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-crosby/) > [“Why should we place Christ at the top and summit of the human race? Was he kinder, more forgiving, more self-sacrificing than Buddha ?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/why-should-we-place-christ-at-the-top-and-summit-of-the-human-race/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/change-your-life-publishing/the-key-is-to-keep-company-only-with-people-who-uplift-you-whose/) [Change Your Life Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/change-your-life-publishing/) > [Only the educated are free. --Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-the-educated-are-free-epictetus/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Asked how a man should best grieve his enemy, Epictetus replied, "By setting himself to live the noblest life himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/asked-how-a-man-should-best-grieve-his-enemy-epictetus-replied-by/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Asked, Who is the rich man? Epictetus replied, �He who is content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/asked-who-is-the-rich-man-epictetus-replied-he-who-is-content/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“If you wish to be a writer; write! Send quote to a friend Epictetus (50-120) Greek philosopher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-wish-to-be-a-writer-write-send-quote-to-a-friend-epictetus-50/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For in this Case, we are not to give Credit to the Many, who say, that none ought to be educated but the Free;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-in-this-case-we-are-not-to-give-credit-to-the-many-who-say-that/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself ill in that and quitted one which you might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-have-assumed-any-character-beyond-your-strength-you-have-both/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## 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 Epictetus quotes > [“Loving your fate and joyful acceptance Epictetus actually describes a three-stage process to his students, which relates to the discipline of desire. He begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-j-robertson/loving-your-fate-and-joyful-acceptance-epictetus-actually-describes-a/) [Donald J. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-j-robertson/) > [Only the educated are free. --Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-the-educated-are-free-epictetus/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What would Heracles have been if he had said, "How am I to prevent a big lion from appearing, or a big boar, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-would-heracles-have-been-if-he-had-said-how-am-i-to-prevent-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“If you wish to be a writer; write! Send quote to a friend Epictetus (50-120) Greek philosopher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-wish-to-be-a-writer-write-send-quote-to-a-friend-epictetus-50/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Epictetus is reminding you that serenity and stability are results of your choices and judgment, not your environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/epictetus-is-reminding-you-that-serenity-and-stability-are-results-of/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing. However, if we are intelligent yet unhappy, then perhaps we are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in-intelligent-people-is-the/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“Use, do not abuse; the wise man arrange things so. I flee Epictetus and Petronius alike. Neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/use-do-not-abuse-the-wise-man-arrange-things-so-i-flee-epictetus-and/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/change-your-life-publishing/the-key-is-to-keep-company-only-with-people-who-uplift-you-whose/) [Change Your Life Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/change-your-life-publishing/) > [“Asked how a man should best grieve his enemy, Epictetus replied, "By setting himself to live the noblest life himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/asked-how-a-man-should-best-grieve-his-enemy-epictetus-replied-by/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Asked, Who is the rich man? Epictetus replied, �He who is content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/asked-who-is-the-rich-man-epictetus-replied-he-who-is-content/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“As Epictetus said centuries ago, “It is impossible to begin to learn what one thinks one already knows.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/as-epictetus-said-centuries-ago-it-is-impossible-to-begin-to-learn/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” - Epictetus By”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-martine/it-s-not-what-happens-to-you-but-how-you-react-to-it-that-matters/) Ali Martine > [“Show your character and commitment through your actions,” Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ballantyne/show-your-character-and-commitment-through-your-actions-epictetus/) [Craig Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ballantyne/) > [There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will. -Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/there-is-only-one-way-to-happiness-and-that-is-to-cease-worrying-2/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [“Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."   - Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-crosby/circumstances-don-t-make-the-man-they-only-reveal-him-to-himself-2/) [Dennis Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-crosby/) [Browse all 22 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epictetus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens.\" Epictetus", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as-how-you-think-about-what-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Epictetus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as-how-you-think-about-what-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/epictetus-413_epictetus_it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as_2886970.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/epictetus-413_epictetus_it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as_2886970.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/epictetus-413_epictetus_it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as_2886970.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens.\" Epictetus” — 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": "It is not so much what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as-how-you-think-about-what-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/it-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-you-as-how-you-think-about-what-2/#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 } } ] } ```