In LOVE with Humanity

Hero #045: Epictetus
Born a slave around 55 AD, Epictetus acquired a passion for philosophy early in life,
and – originally with the permission of his wealthy owner – studied Stoic philosophy; later
becoming a Greek sage and revered Stoic philosopher. He lived a life of deep simplicity and
had few material possessions, and taught that philosophy is a practical way of life, not
merely a theoretical discipline.
To Epictetus, all external events are determined by fate; that is to say, everything that
happens – either to us or for us – is essentially beyond our control. As such, he stated that
we should accept whatever happens to us calmly and then choose how we actively respond
thereto; believing that ―good‖ and ―bad‖ do not hinge upon the content of a particular
happenstance, but rather that they are both crafted by us and our chosen reactions to our
lives‘ circumstances … Epictetus also believed in an active conquest of Good over ―evil‖;
that evil is everything selfish or hurtful or irrational, and that Goodness is the innate
harmony of reasoned kindness that erases such discord.
―First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do ... If thy
brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is
thy brother ... It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that
these things are insulting ... To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of
education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither
oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete.‖ ~ Epictetus
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