Now Reading: Epictetus: discipline passions or they will revenge you
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Epictetus: discipline passions or they will revenge you
The Economic Times featured Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus' warning: "Discipline your passions, or they will take their revenge on you." The article explains that self-discipline creates a pause between feeling and action,…
The Story in Brief
The Economic Times featured Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus' warning: "Discipline your passions, or they will take their revenge on you." The article explains that self-discipline creates a pause between feeling and action, preventing decisions made in anger, greed, or impulse. Uncontrolled emotions can damage relationships and long-term goals. Modern life encourages instant reactions, making deliberate responses essential. Freedom, the philosopher taught, comes from mastering one's own emotional responses, not from eliminating them.
The Indian Opinion
This quote is often twisted to justify suppressing all emotion, as if Stoicism meant coldness. But Epictetus and the Economic Times article are right: discipline, not denial, is the goal. The one-sided narrative that feelings are either to be obeyed or crushed misses the middle path of deliberate response. The real test is whether we can pause before snapping at a driver or chasing a quick profit today.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
