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5 Quotes from Major Philosophers Guaranteed to Make You Think
Centuries old wisdom still speaks to us today … if we listen.
“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can’t control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.”
Thus says Epictetus, one of the great Stoic philosophers who lived shortly after the time of Christ. Epictetus began life as a slave, and was able to obtain his freedom when it was realized how smart he was. If I recall right, his former slave owner became one of his disciples.
The basic ideas are that there are things we can control and things we can’t, and that we have a better and more peaceful life by not banging our heads against the wall (figuratively or actually) trying to control what we can’t.
You cannot, and will never, control what others think, say, and do. You cannot control what motivates others. At most, you can learn what is motivating them and adopt your conduct accordingly. You can influence them, that is. Influence is not control.
