There are things which are within our power,
and there are things which are beyond our
power. Within our power are opinion, aim, desire,
aversion, and, in one word, whatever affairs are our
own. Beyond our power are body, property, reputation, office, and, in one word, whatever are not properly our own affairs.
Now, the things within our power are by nature free,
unrestricted, unhindered; but those beyond our power
are weak, dependent, restricted, alien. Remember,
then, that if you attribute freedom to things by nature
dependent, and take what belongs to others for your
own, you will be hindered, you will lament, you will
be disturbed, you will find fault both with gods and
men. But if you take for your own only that which
is your own, and view what belongs to others just as
it really is, then no one will ever compel you, no one
will restrict you, you will find fault with no one,
you will accuse no one, you will do nothing against
your will; no one will hurt you, you will not have
an enemy, nor will you suffer any harm.
[p. 2216]
Aiming therefore at such great things, remember
that you must not allow yourself any inclination, however slight, towards the attainment of the others; but
that you must entirely quit some of them, and for the
present postpone the rest. But if you would have
these, and possess power and wealth likewise, you
may miss the latter in seeking the former; and you
will certainly fail of that by which alone happiness
and freedom are procured.
Seek at once, therefore, to be able to say to every
unpleasing semblance, " You are but a semblance and
by no means the real thing." And then examine it by
those rules which you have; and first and chiefly, by
this: whether it concerns the things which are within our own power, or those which are not; and if
it concerns anything beyond our power, be prepared
to say that it is nothing to you.
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