An Ethics of Happiness. To lead a happy life, a person should, according to Epictetus (1st/2nd century AD), be free from passions and independent of all external things. One should maintain composure and not expect too much. "The opinions of others must be of no concern to you! Do not let yourself be disturbed! Preserve the right measure!" This small handbook of morality had a significant impact on early Christianity and the thinking of people in Byzantine times. Goethe valued the author more than the so-called great philosophers.