Epictetus Stoic teachings
Epictetus: When pleasure presents itself, do not be…
When pleasure presents itself, do not be swept away. Delay your response. Consider both the enjoyment now and the regret that may follow; then compare them with the satisfaction of abstaining. If you choose to act, do not be conquered by its charm—remember how much better it is to know you mastered it.
A paraphrase of a teaching associated with Epictetus, written for modern readers. Not a transcription of a copyrighted edition.
Temptation usually sells only the opening scene. It shows the purchase, the extra drink, the cutting remark, or the skipped commitment, but not the aftereffects. A useful practice is to let the whole sequence play out before deciding. How will this choice feel an hour later? Tomorrow morning? What will it make harder for the person you are trying to become? You do not have to turn life into a contest of deprivation. Enjoyment has a place, and rigid rules can become their own obsession. The point is to choose with open eyes rather than being carried by a craving's sales pitch. Often the urge weakens once you give it ten minutes and return to your larger priorities. Today, when you want something immediately, delay it briefly. Use the pause to picture both outcomes honestly. Then make a choice you can respect after the moment has passed.
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