Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

The opening line reads like a secular mantra:

"Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and in one word, whatever are not our actions".

Further along, what to do with this realization:

"Work, therefore, to be able to say to every harsh appearance, "You are but an appearance, and not absolutely the thing you appear to be". And then examine it by those rules which you have, and first, and chiefly, buy this: whether it concerns the things which are in our own control, or those which are not: and, if it concerns anything not in our control, be prepared to say that it is nothing to you."

In short, what Epictetus is saying is: be indifferent to what you can't control. Do not allow yourself to be harmed by what you can't control, then you will be strong and resilience, because no adversity that was not your doing can possibly hurt you.

The Enchiridion is nothing short of a guide for good living. It is also an excellent translation (I have sampled other versions and they ranged from incomprehensible to boring). Excellent book, one I'll be rereading often.