To the youngster talking nonsense Zeno said, “The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is so we might listen more and talk less.”
—Diogenes Laertius, Lives Of Eminent Philosophers, 7.1.23
Why do the wise have so few problems compared with the rest of us? There are a few simple reasons.
First, the wise seem to manage expectations as much as possible. They rarely expect what isn’t possible in the first place.
Second, the wise always consider both the best and worst case scenarios. They don’t just think about what they wish to happen, but also what very realistically can happen if things were to suddenly turn.
Third, the wise act with a reverse clause—meaning that they not only consider what might go wrong, but they are prepared for that to be exactly what they want to happen—it is an opportunity for excellence and virtue.
And if you follow it today, you too will find that nothing surprises you or happens contrary to your expectations.
* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman