Previous Stoicism

TEST YOUR IMPRESSIONS

“From the very beginning, make it your practice to say to every harsh impression, ‘you are an impression and not at all what you appear to be.’ Next, examine and test it by the rules you possess, the first and greatest of which is this—whether it belongs to the things in our control or not in our control, and if the latter, be prepared to respond, ‘It is nothing to me.”

- EPICTETUS, ENCHIRIDION

Summary:
Epictetus advises us to question our initial reactions to events and emotions, recognising that they are merely impressions rather than absolute truths. By evaluating whether something is within our control or not, we can avoid unnecessary distress and focus our energy on what truly matters.

Interpretation:
In everyday life, this means not letting external events dictate our peace of mind. For example, if someone insults us, our immediate reaction might be anger or hurt, but by pausing and realising that their words are just an impression—not an inherent truth—we can choose not to be affected. This practice helps us develop resilience and emotional discipline, ensuring we only invest energy in what we can change.

 

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