Epictetus Enchiridion
Epictetus: When you have recourse to divination,…
When you have recourse to divination, remember that you know not what the event will be, and you come to learn it of the diviner; but of what nature it is you know before you come, at least if you are a philosopher. For if it is among the things not in our own control, it can by no means be either good or evil.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of the Enchiridion. The reading beside it is ours.
We often seek predictions because uncertainty feels unbearable. We check forecasts, ask for reassurance, study every possible outcome, and wish someone could tell us exactly what will happen. Epictetus says that even if you knew the future, you would still face the more important question: how should I meet it? If the event lies outside your control, it is not good or evil by itself. Its moral value comes from what you choose to do with it. This does not make planning useless. Gather information, consult experts, and prepare responsibly. Just do not confuse a prediction with power. Knowing that the meeting may go badly does not tell you whether to be honest, calm, or prepared; those choices remain yours. When uncertainty is making you frantic, return to the one certainty available: whatever comes, you can decide how to respond.
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