--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are disturbed not by what happens to…" description: "\"We are disturbed not by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/epictetus-413_attitude_we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to_1432426.jpg" --- # We are disturbed not by what happens to us, but by our… ![“We are disturbed not by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/epictetus-413_attitude_we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to_1432426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/epictetus-413_attitude_we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to_1432426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/epictetus-413_attitude_we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to_1432426.jpg) > “We are disturbed not by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.” [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 distress stems from our judgments, not external events. **In simple terms:** Thoughts cause suffering, not events. Key Takeaway Change perception to reduce suffering. Themes philosophy stoicism mindset Mood reflective calm Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - personal crises - conflict resolution - stress management Key Concepts Cognitive appraisal emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do you interpret setbacks? - What thoughts amplify your distress? A Different Perspective Changing thoughts can be hard without practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Disturbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbed/) [Disturbed Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbed-happens-433262/) [Happens Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-thoughts-433261/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Thoughts Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-happens-433260/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“it gives me no rest, my wish to know the fate of all these scenes that entered my eyes and have remained in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-stasiuk/it-gives-me-no-rest-my-wish-to-know-the-fate-of-all-these-scenes-that/) [Andrzej Stasiuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-stasiuk/) > [“What happens to our thoughts as we clothe them in language, and how faithfully are they preserved when our listeners undress them?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-seymour/what-happens-to-our-thoughts-as-we-clothe-them-in-language-and-how/) [John Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-seymour/) > [Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/men-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-which-they-take-of/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/any-person-capable-of-angering-you-becomes-your-master-he-can-anger/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Men are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/men-are-disturbed-not-by-the-things-that-happen-but-by-their-opinion/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-not-disturbed-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you think you control things that are in the control of others, you will lament. You will be disturbed and you will blame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-think-you-control-things-that-are-in-the-control-of-others-you/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When therefore we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved, let us never attribute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-therefore-we-are-hindered-or-disturbed-or-grieved-let-us-never/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/man-is-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-views-he-takes-of-them/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/men-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-views-which-they-take-of/) [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/) > [“It's amusing to me that we refer to people who live in their heads as detached, disturbed, or mad, when reality for anyone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/it-s-amusing-to-me-that-we-refer-to-people-who-live-in-their-heads-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Since you alone are responsible for your thoughts, only you can change them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/since-you-alone-are-responsible-for-your-thoughts-only-you-can-change/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [You bring out a lot of your own thoughts and attitudes when acting. I think a great deal of it has to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/you-bring-out-a-lot-of-your-own-thoughts-and-attitudes-when-acting-i/) [Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/) ## 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 Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are disturbed not by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/epictetus-413_attitude_we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to_1432426.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/epictetus-413_attitude_we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to_1432426.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/epictetus-413_attitude_we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to_1432426.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are disturbed not by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.” — 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": "We are disturbed not by what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-disturbed-not-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/#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 } } ] } ```