Remember that desire contains in it the profession (hope) of obtaining
that which you desire; and the profession (hope) in aversion (turning
from a thing) is that you will not fall into that which you attempt to
avoid; and he who fails in his desire is unfortunate; and he who falls
into that which he would avoid is unhappy. If then you attempt to avoid
only the things contrary to nature which are within your power you will
not be involved in any of the things which you would avoid. But if you
attempt to avoid disease, or death, or poverty, you will be unhappy.
Take away then aversion from all things which are not in our power, and
transfer it to the things contrary to nature which are in our power.
But destroy desire completely for the present. For if you desire
anything which is not in our power, you must be unfortunate; but of the
things in our power, and which it would be good to desire, nothing yet
is before you. But employ only the power of moving towards an object
and retiring from it; and these powers indeed only slightly and with
exceptions and with remission.