"Each man's master is the person who has the authority over what the man wishes or does not wish, so as to secure it, or take it away."
Arrian depicts mastery as total control of desire. He submits himself to authority only when compelled so as to receive some greater fulfillment of desire.
"Of all existing things some are in our power, and others are not in our power. In our power are thought, impulse, will to get and will to avoid, and, in a word, everything which is our own doing. Things not in our power include the body, property, reputation, office, and, in a word, everything which is not our own doing."
Arrian introduces his book with an explanation of his master's beliefs about control and authority. The individual may control mental faculties, but they may not control their relations to the greater world. Interestingly things like reputation and the physical body are subject to a different power, not stemming from the individual.
"Keep before your eyes from day to day death and exile and all things that seem terrible, but death most of all, and then you will never set your thoughts on what is low and will never desire anything beyond measure."
Arrian is writing to those individuals struggling with mental health. In chapter 21 he offers this advice. People should remember to look at death often, to face down the things that frighten them for real, so as to appropriately moderate their desires in light of the grand drama of life and existence.
"If a man wash quickly, do not say that he washes badly, but that he washes quickly. If a man drink much wine, do not say that he drinks badly, but that he drinks much. For till you have decided what judgement prompts him, how do you know that he acts badly? If you do as I say, you will assent to your apprehensive impressions and to none other."
In this maxim of chapter 45, Arrian warns his readers not to be too quick to judge. Rather than to assign value to an observation, merely observe. Use as much attention to accuracy as possible when describing a situation, so as to avoid unnecessary judgement. Arrian is trying to instill a sense of sincerity and intuition in his readers, urging them to trust their observation above any sort of moral impulse.
