The Conquest of Happiness

Some things are up to you

Echoes

Russell’s wise man acts on preventable misfortunes and spends no time or emotion on unavoidable ones, the same advice in his own words, and he names no one.

1. c. 125 CE

   “There are things which are within our power, and there are things which are beyond our power. Within our power are opinion, aim, desire, aversion, and, in one word, whatever affairs are our own. Beyond our power are body, property, reputation, office, and, in one word, whatever are not properly our own affairs.”

   Epictetus, Enchiridion. Earliest we can find, about 1,810 years earlier.

2. 1930

   “The wise man, though he will not sit down under preventable misfortunes, will not waste time and emotion upon such as are unavoidable”