--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not the events but our viewpoint…" description: "\"It is not the events but our viewpoint toward events that is the determining factor. We ought to be more concerned about removing wrong thoughts from t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/epictetus-413_body_it-is-not-the-events-but-our-viewpoint-t_3111795.jpg" --- # It is not the events but our viewpoint toward events that… ![“It is not the events but our viewpoint toward events that is the determining factor. We ought to be more concerned about removing wrong thoughts from the mind than removing tumors and abscesses from the body.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/epictetus-413_body_it-is-not-the-events-but-our-viewpoint-t_3111795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/epictetus-413_body_it-is-not-the-events-but-our-viewpoint-t_3111795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/epictetus-413_body_it-is-not-the-events-but-our-viewpoint-t_3111795.jpg) > “It is not the events but our viewpoint toward events that is the determining factor. We ought to be more concerned about removing wrong thoughts from the mind than removing tumors and abscesses from the body.” [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, not the events themselves, determines their impact; mental discipline outweighs physical cures. **In simple terms:** Mindset matters more than external circumstances. Key Takeaway Cultivate a disciplined mind to handle challenges. Themes philosophy psychology resilience Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Stressful work situations - personal health crises - conflict resolution Key Concepts Stoicism cognitive reframing Questions to Reflect On - How can you change your viewpoint on a current problem? - What mental habits help you stay resilient? A Different Perspective Physical solutions are sometimes necessary and cannot be ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Viewpoints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewpoints/) ## Related quotes > [The material world has only been constructed at the price of taking the self, that is, mind, out of it, removing it; mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-schrodinger/the-material-world-has-only-been-constructed-at-the-price-of-taking/) [Erwin Schrodinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-schrodinger/) > [“There are no wrong thoughts, only thoughts that need to be worked through and overcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/there-are-no-wrong-thoughts-only-thoughts-that-need-to-be-worked/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Wrong thoughts are inside us just because we identify ourselves with these thoughts. If we identify with something else, immediately they have to leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/wrong-thoughts-are-inside-us-just-because-we-identify-ourselves-with/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [This guilt trip that you put me on won't, mess me up I've done no wrong Any thoughts of you and me have gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proudlesbian/this-guilt-trip-that-you-put-me-on-won-t-mess-me-up-i-ve-done-no/) ProudLesbian > [“Those who fail to distinguish the nonessential from the essential and the essential from the nonessential will, in feeding all wrong thoughts, fail to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/those-who-fail-to-distinguish-the-nonessential-from-the-essential-and/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“If anger-pride-deceit-greed occur, let them occur. There is nothing wrong if you have thoughts of bad conduct, do not be afraid, however, you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-anger-pride-deceit-greed-occur-let-them-occur-there-is-nothing/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [There may be a million ppl supporting the wrong thoughts and actions of a person, just one truthful word of a unknown person could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/there-may-be-a-million-ppl-supporting-the-wrong-thoughts-and-actions/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [So far, I am a cancer survivor, but cancer will be with me for the rest of my life, be it as a nodule,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-joosten/so-far-i-am-a-cancer-survivor-but-cancer-will-be-with-me-for-the-rest/) [Kathryn Joosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-joosten/) > [I'm in favor of personal growth as long as it doesn't include malignant tumors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-in-favor-of-personal-growth-as-long-as-it-doesn-t-include/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Such letters...from the FDA, are, filled with objectively demonstrable lies, practiced deceptions and deviousness, red herrings, directed misinformation, misdirected information, etc. ...Once FDA-NCI-AMA-ACS...concedes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-burk/such-letters-from-the-fda-are-filled-with-objectively-demonstrable/) [Dean Burk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-burk/) > [“What am I at war with? My cancer. And what is my cancer? My cancer is me. The tumors are made of me. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/what-am-i-at-war-with-my-cancer-and-what-is-my-cancer-my-cancer-is-me/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [ Doctors can predict these things \[tumors\] just as long as they get access to people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/doctors-can-predict-these-things-tumors-just-as-long-as-they-get/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [I'd rather get a brain tumor than go back to teaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/i-d-rather-get-a-brain-tumor-than-go-back-to-teaching/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [ The \[Tumor Treating Fields\] patients can undergo all the activities of their daily life. There's none of the tiredness. There's none of what is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-doyle/the-tumor-treating-fields-patients-can-undergo-all-the-activities-of/) William Doyle > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) ## 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 Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. 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I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. 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