Principle 52 · from the Enchiridion
Keep principles ready
A short reminder can help bring a practiced idea to mind under pressure. Choose one that points to an action you can take.
Source passage (English)
The passage is shown in English. The explanation and example below are modern interpretations for this site.
Upon all occasions we ought to have these maxims ready at hand:
"Conduct me, Jove, and you, O Destiny,
Wherever your decrees have fixed my station."
Cleanthes
"I follow cheerfully; and, did I not,
Wicked and wretched, I must follow still
Whoever yields properly to Fate, is deemed
Wise among men, and knows the laws of heaven."
Euripides, Frag. 965
And this third:
"O Crito, if it thus pleases the gods, thus let it be. Anytus and Melitus may kill me indeed, but hurt me they cannot."
Plato's Crito and Apology
What this means
The final reading in this collection brings together short lines about acceptance and resolve. A brief reminder can be easier to recall during a difficult moment than a long explanation.
The useful part is connecting the words to an action. "I cannot guarantee the outcome" might remind you to listen before replying or explain your position without demanding agreement.
A reminder does not guarantee calm. You may need time to pause or collect your thoughts. Practice the line in ordinary moments so that it has a clear meaning when you want to use it under pressure.
An everyday example
Before a difficult conversation, you repeat a line to yourself: "I cannot control the outcome, only my conduct." When the tension rises, it reminds you not to become defensive.
Use the line as a reminder to let the other person finish before you answer. You may still feel tense, but you have one clear action to try.
Reflection Question
What short line would you want to remember when your thoughts start to spiral? When could you begin practicing it?