Don't Wish For More Than What You Can Get

I have just finished reading what I think was an antiquated version of a graduation speech. I don’t really understand what the general point of this handbook. As for the way it’s written I managed to observe that it has an uncanny resemblance to a tongue twister or a brain twister for that matter. “Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing.” (Pg. 11) Quotes like this confuse me and they’re the ruling majority in this text.

As for some of the ideas I managed to pick up, I saw that Epictetus is trying to warn us about the future. He says we should change our ways in order to further understand the things that we own or not own.

“Do not seek to have events happen as you want them to, but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well.” (Pg. 13)I would say that this quote refers to being fine with anything that happens, good or bad. We shouldn’t expect more than what we’re going to get, that way we will never be disappointed. According to my understanding of the text, I would say that it’s an ode to mediocrity. (I could be wrong, I didn’t understand the text all too well).