- My third principle was to focus on mastering myself rather than trying to control external circumstances. I aimed to change my desires rather than trying to change the world around me. I accepted that, aside from our own thoughts, nothing is truly within our control. Therefore, once I had done my best with things outside of myself, I considered anything I failed to achieve as absolutely impossible for me. This principle helped me avoid desiring things I couldn’t obtain, making me more content. Since our will naturally seeks only what we think is attainable, if we view all external goods as beyond our reach, we won’t regret lacking things we’re born without any more than we would regret not having the kingdoms of China or Mexico. By accepting this, we learn to be content with our circumstances, just as we don’t desire things like incorruptible bodies or the ability to fly when we’re sick or imprisoned.
- My third maxim was to endeavour always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and change my desires rather than the order of the world, and in general, accustom myself to the persuasion that, except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power; so that when we have done our best in respect of things external to us, all wherein we fail of success is to be held, as regards us, absolutely impossible and this single principle seemed to me sufficient to prevent me from desiring for the future anything which I could not obtain, and thus render me contented; for since our will naturally seeks those objects alone which the understanding represents as in some way possible of attainment, it is plain, that if we consider all external goods as equally beyond our power, we shall no more regret the absence of such goods as seem due to our birth, when deprived of them without any fault of ours, than our not possessing the kingdoms of China or Mexico; and thus making, so to speak, a virtue of necessity, we shall no more desire health in disease, or freedom in imprisonment, than we now do bodies incorruptible as diamonds, or the wings of birds to fly with.
