17 Dec 2025 · 3 min
Brian Johnson shares Epictetus quotes on accepting what you can't control and strengthening yourself daily. A soccer yellow card becomes the setup for thinking like a Stoic, and Johnson asks you to remember a teacher's wisdom and practice it today.
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic one. In the last couple ones, we had fun chatting about some stoic practices I got to put to work in response to the heroic gods blessing me with an excessive celebration penalty. That always cracks me up when I imagine the heroic gods laughing as they issue me a yellow card for being a bit too self congratulatory. In that moment, I can literally see the ref in a recent Toronto FC Major League Soccer game issuing one of their opponent's yellow card after ripping his shirt off scoring his first goal. Now, as I mentioned, I had to search my Mac to find that Epictetus quote I like to have in mind when I'm dealing with a little sickness. It's worth repeating. Here it is. Remember that thou art an actor in a play of such a kind as the teacher or author may choose, if short of a short one, if long of a long one. If he wishes you to act the part of a poor man, see that you act the part naturally. If the part of a lame man, of a magistrate, of a private person, do the same. For this is your duty to act well. The part that is given to you, but to select the part belongs to another. Now, as I was doing that search, trying to find that quote, I found a bunch of others that made my head explode with joyful inspiration. Here are a few I think you might enjoy. Epictetus tells us, bearing all this in mind, welcome present circumstances and accept the things whose time has arrived. Be happy when you find that doctrines you have learned and analyzed are being tested by real events. And he says, in short, I will show you that I have the strength of a philosopher. And what strength would that be? A will that never fails to get what it wants. A faculty of aversion that always avoids what it dislikes. Proper impulse, careful purpose and disciplined descent. That's the human specimen you should prepare yourselves to see. I can just see him saying that 2000 years ago. I love it. And he says, this is my ambition. I aspire to make you proof against force, obstruction and disappointment. Free, content and happy with. With your attention fixed on God in every matter great and small. How about one more? Epictetus tells us. What does Socrates say? One person likes tending to his farm, another to his horse. I like to daily monitor my self improvement. And that's today's plus one. If you feel so inspired as you soak in that wisdom from Epictetus, who's right back there, by the way, think of one of your favorite teachers. What's one piece of wisdom they would like you to have in mind. Get on that. Practice your philosophy today.
