The Handbook of Epictetus
Handbook 1.3
Translated by Clint Miller
Remember, then: if you take what is by nature enslaved to be free, and what belongs to others to be your own, you will be blocked, you will grieve, you will be disturbed, and you will blame both gods and men. But if you take only what is yours to be yours, and what belongs to others – as it does – to belong to others, then no one will ever compel you, no one will hinder you, you will blame no one, you will accuse no one, you will not do a single thing against your will, no one will harm you, and you will have no enemy, because nothing harmful can happen to you.
ὅτι, ἐὰν τὰ φύσει δοῦλα ἐλεύθερα οἰηθῇς καὶ τὰ ἀλλότρια ἴδια, ἐμποδισθήσῃ, πενθήσεις, ταραχθήσῃ, μέμψῃ καὶ θεοὺς καὶ ἀνθρώπους, ἐὰν δὲ τὸ σὸν μόνον οἰηθῇς σὸν εἶναι, τὸ δὲ ἀλλότριον, ὥσπερ ἐστίν, ἀλλότριον, οὐδείς σε ἀναγκάσει οὐδέποτε, οὐδείς σε κωλύσει, οὐ μέμψῃ οὐδένα, οὐκ ἐγκαλέσεις τινί, ἄκων πράξεις οὐδὲ ἕν, οὐδείς σε βλάψει, ἐχθρὸν οὐχ ἕξεις, οὐδὲ γὰρ βλαβερόν τι πείσῃ.