"Just as no
sign is placed in
the world not to be seen, there is nothing intrinsically
evil."
the Manual of Epictetus
According to Epictetus, nothing is ours to have forever, to keep. Not a pet, not a work of art, not a child, not a wife or a husband. Epictetus admonishes us to realize this.
Whenever we are separated from what we value, treasure, love, we should say, "I gave it back."
For it was never ours to begin with.