Portrait of Jennie

Where I come from?
Nobody knows.
And where I'm going
Everything goes.

The wind blows,
The sea flows.

And nobody knows.

Epicteto: Sobre la libertad

«He puesto mis proyectos bajo la dirección de Dios. ¿Es Su voluntad que yo esté enfermo? También es mi voluntad. (...) ¿Es Su voluntad que consiga alguna cosa? También lo es la mía. ¿No es Su voluntad? La mía tampoco. ¿Es Su voluntad que sea torturado? Entonces es mi voluntad ser torturado. ¿Es Su voluntad que yo muera? Entonces mi voluntad es morir. ¿Quién me puede ya forzar u obstaculizar? Es tan imposible en mi caso en el de Zeus». - (Epicteto, Obras IV, 1)

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Epicteto: Obras

Epictetus: Of freedom

I have placed my pursuits under the direction of God. Is it His will that I should have a fever? It is my will too. Is it His will that I should pursue anything? It is my will, too. Is it His will that I should desire? It is my will too. Is it His will that I should obtain anything? It is mine too. Is it not His will? It is not mine. Is it His will that I should be tortured? Then it is my will to be tortured. Is it His will that I should die? Then it is my will to die. Who can any longer restrain or compel me, contrary to my own opinion? No more than Zeus.

It is thus that cautious travellers act. Does some one hear that the road is beset by robbers? He does not set out alone, but waits for the retinue of an ambassador, or quaestor, or proconsul; and when he has joined himself to their company, goes along in safety. Thus does the prudent man act in the world. There are many robberies, tyrants, storms, distresses, losses of things most dear. Where is there any refuge? How can he go alone unattacked? What retinue can he wait for, to go safely through his journey? To what company shall he join himself? To some rich man? To some consular senator? And what good will that do me? He may be robbed himself, groaning and lamenting. And what if my fellow-traveller himself should turn against me and rob me? What shall I do? I say, I will be the friend of Caesar. While I am his companion, no one will injure me. Yet before I can become illustrious enough for this, what must I bear and suffer! How often, and by how many, must I be robbed! And, then, if I do become the friend of Caesar, he too is mortal; and if, by any accident, he should become my enemy, where can I best retreat? To a desert? Well; and may not a fever come there? What can be done then? Is it not possible to find a fellow-traveller, safe, faithful, brave, incapable of being sur- prised? A person who reasons thus, understands and considers that if he joins himself to God, he shall go safely through his journey.

"How do you mean, join himself?" That what ever is the will of God may be his will too: that whatever is not the will of God may not be his. "How, then, can this be done?" Why, how otherwise than by considering the workings of God's power and his administration? - (Epictetus, Libro IV, 1)

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