Criticism, Uncertainty, and Expectations

Three thought-provoking quotes that have been on my mind lately.

1. On criticism: If someone criticizes you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, "That's only because he doesn't know me well. Otherwise he would have much worse things to say about me." — Epictetus (paraphrased)

2. On uncertainty: Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity. — Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

3. On expectations: “We don’t have time like we have objects. When we say we have three hours what we mean is that we expect time.” — Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks