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About this quote

What does it mean?
Rational people can endure irrational situations, but they cannot tolerate irrationality within themselves.
In plain terms
You can handle chaos outside, but not inside you.
What can you take from it?
Cultivate inner rationality.

Where it applies

  • stressful work
  • personal conflict

Putting it to work

  • practice mindfulness
  • challenge irrational thoughts

Questions to consider

  • How do you distinguish external irrationality from internal?
  • What practices help maintain inner rationality?

Another view

Rationality alone may not resolve deep emotional turmoil.

More from Epictetus

  1. When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is wi…

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  2. No thing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let i…

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  3. Practice yourself, for heaven's sake, in little things; and thence proceed to greater.

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