Verba Diei XV

"No man is free who is not master of himself." - Epictetus, Discourses

You can’t call yourself free if you’re a slave to impulse.

You say you want to do better, to live intentionally, to pursue greatness - but how easily are you derailed? By a notification. A craving. A burst of emotion.

Epictetus draws a hard line. True freedom is not granted by law or permission. It is earned by discipline.

To be the master of yourself means choosing your response. It means rising above the urge to lash out, give in, delay.

It doesn’t mean suppressing feelings. It means observing them and deciding, consciously, what serves you.

You are not a machine. You are not a puppet. But unless you train your mind, your desires will pull the strings.

Self-mastery is the foundation of all other achievements. It is the one thing no one can take from you.

The greatest power you can hold is power over yourself.