Epictetus for the Day

If you want to improve, reject such reasonings as these: "If I neglect my affairs, I'll have no income; if I don't correct my employee, he take advantage of me." For it is better to die with hunger, exempt from grief and fear, than to live in affluence with perturbation; and it is better your employee should be bad, than you unhappy.

Begin therefore with little things. Is a little oil spilt? A little wine stolen? Say to yourself, "This is the price paid for freedom from perturbation, for serenity, and nothing is to be had for nothing." When you call your employee, it is possible that he may not come; or, if he does, he may not do what you want. But this is by no means of such importance that it should be in his power to cause you any disturbance.

The Enchiridion (12), 135 C.E.

Epictetus