How to be Free is an Ancient Guide to the Stoic life and comprises The Encheiridion and selections from The Discourses.

Epictetus was born a slave and lived from 55AD to 135AD. This Roman Stoic philosopher taught that mental Freedom is supreme, since it can liberate you anywhere, even in prison. Freedom for Epictetus is a psychological achievement, a gift that we alone can bestow on ourselves, by assigning value to what we can control and treating what we can’t control with equanimity.

Wherever I go I will be fine, because I was already fine here – not on account of the place but as a result of my principles, and I am going to take them with me. No one can take them away from me; they are my only possessions, irremovable ones that are enough for me, wherever I am and whatever I do.