The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.

However individuals are responsible for their own actions which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. To Epictetus all external events are determined by fate and are thus beyond our control; we should accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. Philosophy Epictetus taught is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline.