You are a primary existence. You are a distinct portion of the essence of God, and contain a certain part of Him in yourself. Why then are you ignorant of your noble birth? You carry a God about within you, poor wretch, and nothing of it.
- Epictetus
A note about Epictetus: Epictetus was a Greek sage and Stoic philosopher. Born a slave in what is today Pamukkale, Turkey, he lived in Rome till he was banished. He then went to Nicopolis in Northwestern Greece and lived there for the rest of his life. He believed that philosophy was a way of life and not just a theory. Epictetus believed that all external events are determined by fate, and therefore beyond our control. So, we need to accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. We, however, are responsible for our actions. If we try to control what cannot be controlled, or neglect what we can do, the result is suffering. Like all wise men, he believed that all men were interconnected and that therefore we have a duty to our fellow men.