“Either the gods have power or they don’t. If they don’t,
why pray? If they do, then why not pray for something else
instead of for things to happen or not to happen? Pray not to
feel fear. Or desire, or grief. If the gods can do anything, they
can surely do that for us.—But those are things the gods left up to me.
Then isn’t it better to do what’s up to you—like a free man
—than to be passively controlled by what isn’t, like a slave
or beggar? And what makes you think the gods don’t care
about what’s up to us?
Start praying like this and you’ll see.
Not “some way to sleep with her”—but a way to stop
wanting to.
Not “some way to get rid of him”—but a way to stop
trying.
Not “some way to save my child”—but a way to lose your
fear.
Redirect your prayers like that, and watch what happens.”