Few quotes capture the essence of Stoic philosophy as clearly as this one from Epictetus, the Greek Stoic philosopher whose teachings have influenced thinkers for nearly two millennia. Rather than blaming external events for human suffering, Epictetus argued that it is often our interpretation of those events that determines how we feel. The quote remains one of Stoicism's most enduring lessons, reminding people that while they cannot always control what happens, they can learn to control how they respond.
