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“[1] ‘Remember that it isn’t just longing for political power and wealth that subjugates a person and makes him subservient to others, but also the desire for quiet, leisure, travel, and learning. To put it simply, whatever the external thing may be, if you value it, it makes you subservient to others. [2] Is there any difference, then, between longing to be a senator and longing not to be a senator? Between craving political power and craving not to have political power? Is there any difference between saying, “It upsets me that I can’t do a thing because I’m tied to my books like a corpse,” and “It upsets me that I’ve no time for reading”? [3] The point is that a book, no less than salutations and public office, belongs to the class of things that are external to us and aren’t subject to will. [4] Why do you want to read? Tell me. If you take up a book in order to be entertained or to learn some point of theory, your reading is pointless and you’re not making the most of yourself. But if you’re reading for the right purpose—well, what can this be except contentment? And if your reading doesn’t bring you contentment, what’s the good of it?’”

—Epictetus, Discourses 4.4.1-4 (arranged by Arrian) (tr. Waterfield, 2022)