Why Epictetus Still Matters Today

More than 1,800 years ago, a man named Epictetus was born into slavery in the Roman Empire. Despite having no control over his circumstances, he changed the world—not through wealth or power, but through his philosophy. Generations later, his words remain alive, guiding people through adversity and everyday stress. But why does Epictetus still matter today?

Epictetus taught that we cannot control external events—only our own actions, judgments, and reactions. To him, freedom wasn’t about breaking physical chains, but mastering your inner self. “It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters,” he wrote. It’s a simple idea, but powerful. In an era of constant notifications and endless uncertainty, this advice is more relevant than ever.

Consider the modern workplace. Deadlines shift, colleagues disappoint, and economic forces threaten job security. If you measure your happiness by things you can’t control, frustration is inevitable. Epictetus’ solution? Focus your energy on your response. “Some things are up to us, and some are not.” When you remember this, you stop wasting effort on blame and anxiety. Instead, you direct your attention, calmly, toward what you can do now.

His teachings also help with social pressure and comparison. Today, we scroll through highlight reels of other people’s lives, setting ourselves up for envy and self-doubt. But Epictetus warned against letting the approval of others determine your self-worth. He urged his students to ask only, “Did I act according to my own principles?” In our image-obsessed world, this inner scorecard is a lifeline.

Even facing hardship, Epictetus offers a sturdy shield. He believed suffering could be transformed by perspective and discipline. Born into bondage, walking with a limp from a childhood injury, he saw hardship not as a curse, but as training for the soul. Every challenge, he argued, is material for personal excellence. When faced with disappointment or loss, imagining what Epictetus might say reminds us to look for what we can learn, how we can endure, and who we can become.

Stoicism, at its heart, isn’t about indifference or suppressing feelings. It’s about acknowledging our emotions, then choosing a rational response. In a noisy, unpredictable world, Epictetus gives permission to accept what we cannot change, act where we can, and find peace in the difference.

That’s why Epictetus, a man born a slave, still matters today. His wisdom endures not because life has grown simpler, but because it remains just as complex. And through his words, we find a pathway to freedom—not in changing the world, but in mastering ourselves.