We proceed to give a short sketch of its contents.
Epictetus began by laying down the broad comprehensive statement that there are some things which are in our power, and depend upon ourselves; other things which are beyond our power, and wholly independent of us.
The things which are in our power are our opinions, our aims, our desires, our aversions--in a word, _our actions_.

The things beyond our power are bodily accidents, possessions, fame, rank, and whatever lies _beyond_ the sphere of our actions.

To the former of these classes of things our whole attention must be confined.

In that region we may be noble, unperturbed, and free; in the other we shall be dependent, frustrated, querulous, miserable.

Both classes cannot be successfully attended to; they are antagonistic, antipathetic; we cannot serve God and Mammon.
Now, if we take a right view of all these things which in no way depend on ourselves we shall regard them as mere semblances--as shadows which are to be distinguished from the true substance.