Principle 18 · from the Enchiridion
Do not fear omens
A frightening sign is not proof of what will happen. Check relevant facts and prepare for risks you can actually address.
Source passage (English)
The passage is shown in English. The explanation and example below are modern interpretations for this site.
When a raven happens to croak unluckily, don't allow the appearance hurry you away with it, but immediately make the distinction to yourself, and say, "None of these things are foretold to me; but either to my paltry body, or property, or reputation, or children, or wife. But to me all omens are lucky, if I will. For whichever of these things happens, it is in my control to derive advantage from it."
What this means
Epictetus warns us not to hand our minds over to signs, rumors, or frightening stories. We can build an entire panic around something before we know whether it will happen.
That does not mean every event will be pleasant. It means that even a bad situation may leave room to judge carefully and act well. The question is not whether the world is on your side, but whether you can still choose a reasonable response.
In a modern situation, distinguish information about a risk from a sign you have assigned personal meaning to. A relevant warning deserves attention; an unrelated bad event does not establish that your own plan will fail. Ask what the information actually supports, then decide whether preparation or a change of plan is needed.
An everyday example
You read alarming news before a major decision and begin to treat it as proof that everything will go wrong.
Pause and return to what you can do. Gather the facts, ask for relevant advice, and make the decision as carefully as you can. The news may matter, but it does not get to make the decision for you.
Reflection Question
What frightening story has started to feel like a fact lately, even though it has not happened?