Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things
 Epictetus, Enchiridion (125). copy citation

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Author Epictetus
Source Enchiridion
Topic opinion
Date 125
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by George Long
Weblink https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Encheiridion_of_Epictetus_(George_Long)

Context

“for thus if any hindrance to bathing shall happen, let this thought be ready; it was not this only that I intended, but I intended also to maintain my will in a way conformable to nature; but I shall not maintain it so, if I am vexed at what happens. ==V== Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things: for example, death is nothing terrible, for if it were, it would have seemed so to Socrates; for the opinion about death, that it is terrible, is the terrible thing. When then, we are impeded or dis­turbed or grieved, let us never blame others, but ourselves, that is, our opinions.” source