In other words, Epictetus suggests to diminish the importance of certain things including family to not be disappointed when they are taken from us in life. Epictetus notes, "If you kiss your child or your wife, say that you are kissing a human being; for when it dies you will not be upset," (Epictetus 12). Epictetus believes that the practice of detachment will help us have a good life without any letdowns. .
Jordan Belfort also known as, "The Wolf of Wall Street," has his own beliefs in what makes up the good life. Inclined to lead a life filled with drugs and alcohol, Jordan Belfort believes that the only way to live a good life is to be rich and own the world. Belfort explains that money is the most powerful drug in the world; it is the one thing that makes you feel invincible. In one of his many speeches to his employees, he begins to explain that the only way to deal with your problems is to become rich. In other words, the materialistic things in life will fix your troubles and therefore leading a good life. With this, Epictetus would argue that it is not beneficial to focus all of the attention on the external things in life. He says, "If you want to make progress, let people think you are a mindless fool about externals, and do not desire a reputation for knowing about them," (Epictetus 15). I think that Epictetus's ideology on not focusing on the external things in life is beneficial. If we are constantly focused on attaining the materialistic things in the world, we lose a sense of who we are.
Numerous times throughout the movie Belfort's frustration with certain incidents take a toll on his well-being and the people around him. The movie begins with Jordan explaining a little about himself, he explains, "The year I turned twenty-six I made $49 million, which really pissed me off because it was three shy of a million a week," (Wolf of Wall Street).
