God has fixed this law, and says, ‘If you want something good, get it from yourself.’ But you say, ‘No, I’ll get it from another.’ I say, ‘No – get it from yourself.’ [5] If a tyrant threatens me at court, I say, ‘What is he threatening?’ If he says, ‘I will put you in chains,’ I say, ‘He is threatening my hands and feet.’ [6] If he says, ‘I will behead you,’ I say, ‘He is threatening my neck.’ If he says, ‘I will throw you into prison,’ I say, ‘He is threatening my entire body’; if he threatens exile, I say the same. [7] ‘Well, then, aren’t you threatened, even a little?’ If I feel that these things are nothing to me, then no. [8] But if I fear for any of them, then, yes, it is I who am threatened.
Who is there left for me to fear, and over what has he control? Not what is in my power, because no one controls that except myself. As for what is not in my power, in that I take no interest.
Discourses 1.29.4
Today’s meditation
The underlying Stoic issue here is the distinction between what is within our control and what is not. Epictetus reminds us, "If you want something good, get it from yourself" (Discourses 1.29.4). This passage reveals that true freedom and strength lie in focusing on what we can control, which is our own thoughts, actions, and character.
As Epictetus illustrates, when faced with external threats or pressures, we should recognize that the only thing that can be truly threatened is our physical body or external circumstances, not our inner self. He says, "If a tyrant threatens me... I say, 'What is he threatening?'... 'He is threatening my hands and feet'" (Discourses 1.29.5-6). This detachment from external events allows us to maintain our inner peace and integrity.
To apply this insight today, consider the areas of your life where you feel pressured or threatened. Ask yourself, "What is truly within my control in this situation?" Focus on cultivating your own character, virtues, and actions, rather than relying on external sources for happiness or security. As Epictetus advises, take no interest in what is not in your power.
A practical step might be to identify one aspect of your life where you feel anxious or concerned, and then ask yourself, "What can I control in this situation?" or "What action can I take that aligns with my values and virtues?" By shifting your focus to what you can control and letting go of attachment to external outcomes, you can begin to live more in accordance with Stoic principles and cultivate a sense of inner strength and resilience.
What is one thing you can control today that will help you live in greater alignment with your values?