In recent years, philosophy books have been disappearing from the shelves of Madrid bookstores at an astonishing pace. One name appears more and more frequently: Epictetus, a former slave who became a key symbol of Stoicism and inner freedom. In Spain, where change comes rapidly and often painfully, his ideas have found new relevance. They raise a simple yet uncomfortable question: why do people react so strongly to things they cannot change? The answer offered by Epictetus is radical—it’s not the events themselves, but our attitude toward them that matters.
Epictetus wasn’t part of the elite in his time. His life was marked by limitations: slavery, the lack of civil rights, exile from Rome. Yet it was precisely under these conditions that his philosophy of calm took shape. He argued that happiness does not depend on external circumstances, but arises when a person stops clinging to what is beyond their control. This approach strongly echoes the Spanish character—the ability to maintain dignity and humor even during the most challenging periods in history.
Inner Freedom
In major Spanish cities, wellbeing is often discussed in terms of income, rent prices, and political crises. Yet Stoicism offers a different perspective: anxiety is not caused by events themselves, but by how we interpret them. Epictetus called these interpretations ‘impressions’ (phantasía): the outside world constantly sends us signals, but it is up to each person to decide whether to let them control our emotions.
By this logic, neither losing a job nor facing financial hardship is a catastrophe in itself. The real problem arises when one loses the ability to maintain inner balance. Epictetus argued that no one can impose their own notions of good and evil on another — it is always a matter of personal choice. His philosophy offers not comfort, but a survival tool in a world of constant instability.
Responsibility for Emotions
Spanish culture has traditionally placed great importance on fate, luck, and circumstances. However, Epictetus was adamant: neither fortune nor external conditions justify uncontrolled emotions. He introduced the concept of prohairesis — the conscious ability to choose one’s response to events. One cannot control what happens, but is fully responsible for how to approach it.
This approach transforms the very role of the individual: instead of being a victim of circumstance, a person becomes an active participant in their own life. Even in situations that provoke irritation, fear, or anger, there remains room for choice. In a culture where emotions are often expressed openly and passionately, this idea might seem radical, but it is precisely what helps mitigate the destructive effects of conflict and anxiety.
Practice, Not Theory
Epictetus’ philosophy was practical at its core. In Nikopolis, where he was exiled after being banished from Rome, he founded a school not to teach rhetoric, but the art of living. His teachings didn’t require seclusion or special conditions—they were meant for everyday situations: when facing injustice, disappointment, or uncertainty.
Today, amid social and economic shifts, many in Spain are once again turning to these principles. Some find support in meditation, others in reading ancient philosophers, others still in consciously letting go of trying to control the uncontrollable. The central idea remains unchanged: inner calm becomes a form of resistance against chaos.
The Spanish context
Attitudes toward life differ across the country’s regions. In southern cities like Málaga, there is noticeably more trust in the course of events and less anxiety about the future. Still, even there, during times of loss and failure, Stoic ideas resonate. The principle of ‘not wasting strength on what cannot be changed’ is gradually becoming a part of everyday wisdom.
Stoicism does not promise a complete absence of emotion. It simply reminds us that feelings should not govern one’s life. This is the essence of the true freedom Epictetus spoke of—the ability to maintain clarity and composure even when the world around is unstable. Perhaps this quality is precisely what many societies lack today as they face an era of constant change.
