Epictetus (c. 50-c. 135 AD) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He believed that philosophy should be a way of life and not just a theoretical study. In this story, Epictetus is reminding us to focus only on what we can control – our own actions – and not spend time worrying about what we can't control. Happiness can only be achieved when we accept what we can't control and adopt the most positive outlook we can.

By adapting famous animal parables, the Pocket Philosophy series seeks to introduce inquisitive readers of all ages – from 1 to 100! – to the biggest names in philosophy.

Alice Brière-Haquet was a cherry picker and a high school teacher before she turned to writing books. The cherries have blossomed, the students have grown up, and about a hundred of her books are now scattered throughout people's homes, even throughout the world thanks to numerous translations. She saw some of the world herself before returning to Normandy, France, with her cello and her family.