Recently, when I feel inexplicable panic and sadness, I will think of the stoic words: love what we love, but know that our love is like morning dew.
Think of life as a dinner party, and you should behave gracefully. I want to use this sentence to encourage myself.
The following is a brief introduction and summary:
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Epiktetos (about 55- 135DC), a famous liberal philosopher in ancient Rome, has the greatest influence on western ethics after Socrates.
He was born into a slave family with a disabled leg. His master, Epaphroditus, was a Roman minister who later killed the extravagant and cruel emperor Nero. Epiktetos is very talented. Fortunately, he was freed from slavery from the famous Stoic philosopher Rufus at that time. Later, he and other philosophers were expelled from Rome by the Roman emperor Titus Flaviu Domitian, and epiktetos taught philosophy in Nicopolis on the northwest coast of Greece until his death at the age of 80.
Epiktetos's works are compiled from students' Ariane records, mainly including Meditations on epiktetos, Conversations with Titus of Epik and a short version of Handbook. His works read like vernacular, simple and clear, and the manual has only 52 paragraphs. He constructed a philosophy of life, pursued freedom and peace of mind, lived his own life according to the laws of nature, and advocated being the master of his own soul under any circumstances.
Who is the Stoic? Even though he is sick, in danger, dying, exiled to a different place, he still feels happy. He longed for unity with God, never complained, never felt disappointed, never went against his will, never felt angry and jealous. (meditating)
control
In order to obtain happiness and freedom, we must understand the truth that there are some things we can control and some things we can't. Only by facing up to this basic principle and learning to distinguish between what you can control and what you can't control can we have inner peace and external efficiency.
Some things are under our control, while others are not. The things under our control are opinions, pursuits, desires, disgust, in short, whether it is our own behavior. Things beyond our control are body, property, reputation, orders, in short, anything that is not our own behavior. #enchiridion 1)
freedom
What hurts us is not the thing itself, but our view of it. Things themselves will not hurt or hinder us, and neither will others. What really scares and scares us is not the external event itself, but the way we look at it. What makes us uneasy is not things, but our interpretation of their meaning.
Everything in the world doesn't seem to meet our expectations. They should happen and people should act.
Freedom is not the right or ability to do whatever you want. Freedom comes from knowing the limits of one's own strength and the natural limits set by heaven. Only by accepting the limitations and inevitability of life without fighting against it can we be free.
Remember, it's not the people who say bad things or hit people who insult them, but the principle of saying these things are insulting. Therefore, when anyone annoys you, make sure that it is your own opinion that annoys you. #enchiridion 20
If you happen to turn your attention to the outside, please believe that you have ruined your life plan in order to please anyone. #enchiridion 23)
increase and decrease
Take care of what you happen to have. We won't really lose anything, nor will we lose anything. When we stop saying "I lost it" and say "It went back to its original place", we gain inner peace. Is your child gone? He just went back to the place before he came to this world. Is your partner dead? He (she) just went back to the original place. Have you been deprived of your property? They went back to where they came from.
Don't care what others think of you. They are often confused and blinded by superficial phenomena. Stick to your goal. This alone can strengthen your will and make your life consistent.
Although he gives you possession, take care of it; But don't treat it as your own, just like a traveler looks at a hotel. #enchiridion 1 1
Think about when your ship broke down during the voyage; If you go to the shore to get water, you can amuse yourself by picking up a shell or an onion along the way. However, your thoughts and persistent attention should turn to the ship and wait for the captain's call; Then you must leave all these things at once, or you will be thrown into the boat and tied around your neck and feet like a sheep. So is life. #enchiridion 7)
nature
Natural will is manifested through the common daily experience of all people. For example, when the child next door breaks a bowl or other similar items, we will easily say, "This happened." Therefore, when your bowl is broken, your reaction should be the same, just like someone else's bowl is broken. We should extend this understanding to secular things that worry us more and have more important consequences.
Life is not a combination of a series of random and meaningless events, but an orderly and beautiful whole, which follows the law that can be finally understood.
Don't force things to be as you wish, but hope that things will be as you wish, and you will go well. #enchiridion 8)
habit
Every habit and ability is maintained and strengthened through corresponding behaviors: the habit of walking makes us walk better, and regular running makes us run better.
Clearly determine what ideas or concepts you allow to enter your mind. If you don't choose to accept yourself, then others will choose for you, and their motives may not be noble.
unconventional
Think of life as a dinner party, and you should behave gracefully. When the dish is handed to you, you can reach for one, but the weight should be appropriate; If the dishes just pass in front of your eyes, enjoy the food already on your plate; If the food hasn't arrived yet, you should wait patiently.
Don't compare yourself with others, let alone with your ideal self. People's perfection is gradual and requires a hard process.
Look at those kids. They reached into the narrow bottle and tried to take out the nuts and figs inside. If they have a full hand and can't get it out, it will make them cry. "Don't take so many things, you can take your hands out." You, too, let go of your desires and don't covet so many things, so that you will gain something.
Remember, you must act like you are at a dinner party in your life. Is there anything around you? Reach out your hand and take your share moderately. Does it pass by you? Do not stop. Has it not come yet? Don't extend your desire to it, but wait for it to come to you. #enchiridion 15)
rationality
Thinking clearly is not an art that needs indifference. The task of reason is to critically test our speculation, including the explanation we have made and the method of drawing this explanation. Reason is not an end but an indispensable means. Asking questions is a rational motive, so you need to learn how to ask questions rationally instead of emotionally. If your ability to think clearly is impaired, your moral life will become chaotic. Reason can distinguish between true and false, and can distinguish the depth of truth.
The marks of good reasoning ability are clear, consistent, rigorous, accurate and unambiguous.
When walking, be careful not to step on nails or sprain your ankle; So be careful not to hurt your mind's control ability. #enchiridion38)
Primitive desire
The cleverest among us understand the natural limitations of our knowledge and have the courage to keep their innocence.
The first step towards wisdom is the hardest, because our fragile and stubborn mind is afraid of fatigue (not to mention whether it will be rewarded) and strangeness. When you make progress through hard work, your determination will be stronger and self-improvement will gradually become easier.
Allah Tantou
The root of personal value is not external. You can't find it in your interaction with others or in other people's opinions. Others, even those who love you, don't necessarily agree with your ideas, understand you and share your enthusiasm. Grow up! Who cares what others think of you! You have your own work to do. Do it now and do your best, no matter who is watching you.
According to God's arrangement, each of us has our own vocation. Listen to God's call and follow him faithfully. Be realistic with yourself. Clearly assess your strengths and weaknesses.
meaning
We must receive education, the purpose is not to change the composition of things, but to make our will in harmony with what happened after seeing the true colors and essence of things around us. Because we are not endowed with the ability to change the structure of things, things will not get better.
Because nothing can hinder or hurt a person's will outside the control of the will. If he only seeks his "goodness" and his highest interests within the unimpeded scope within his power, he will gain freedom, tranquility, happiness, peace, nobility and piety, and he will thank God for all his achievements and will not find fault with anything.
You are no longer a boy, but an adult. Therefore, if you are negligent and lazy, always increase procrastination in procrastination, increase purpose in purpose, and concentrate on yourself day after day, you will unconsciously continue to be unskilled, and, alive and dead, persist in becoming a vulgar person. This moment, then, I think I am worth living. As a man, I have grown up and become proficient. Let what you think is the best become an inviolable law. If there are any examples of pain or happiness, or glory or shame in front of you, remember that this is a battle, and now the Olympic Games will begin, and it cannot be postponed. #enchiridion 50)