Epictetus Quotes
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Nothing great is produced suddenly, since not even the grape or the fig is. If you say to me now that you want a fig, I will answer to you that it requires time: let it flower first, then put forth fruit, and then ripen.
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We tell lies, yet it is easy to show that lying is immoral.
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If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say: 'He obviously does not know me very well, since there are so many other faults he could have mentioned.'
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Think of God more often than thou breathest.
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If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.
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Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.
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Never depend on the admiration of others for self-satisfaction. It is a fact of life that other people, even people who love you, will not necessarily agree with your ideas, understand you always, or share your enthusiasms.
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He that hath no musical instruction is a child in Music; he that hath no letters is a child in Learning; he that is untaught is a child in Life. (105).
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In the long run, every man will pay the penalty for this own misdeeds.
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Even as the Sun doth not wait for prayers and incantations to rise, but shines forth and is welcomed by all: so thou also wait not for clapping of hands and shouts and praise to do thy duty; nay, do good of thine own accord, and thou wilt be loved like the Sun.
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We do not choose our own parts in life, and have nothing to do with those parts. Our duty is confined to playing them well.
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God has entrusted me with myself. No man is free who is not master of himself. A man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.
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For he who is unmusical is a child in music; he who is without letters is a child in learning; he who is untaught, is a child in life.
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I apply to you to come and hear that you are in evil case; that what deserves your attention most is the last thing to gain it; that you know not good from evil, and are in short a hapless wretch; a fine way to apply! though unless the words of the Philosopher affect you thus, speaker and speech are alike dead. (120).
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The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.
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You may fetter my leg, but Zeus himself cannot get the better of my free will.
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Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals. Once you have determined the spiritual principles you wish to exemplify, abide by these rules as if they were laws, as if it were indeed sinful to compromise them. Don't mind if others don't share your convictions. How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be? Your nobler self cannot wait any longer.
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If you would be a reader, read; if a writer, write.
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Kings and tyrants have armed guards wherewith to chastise certain persons, though they be themselves evil. But to the Cynic conscience gives this power-not arms and guards. (119).
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We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout.
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When we act pugnaciously, and injuriously, and angrily, and rudely, to what level have we degenerated? To the level of the wild beasts. Well, the fact is that some of us are wild beasts of a larger size, while others are little animals, malignant and petty.
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One of the best ways to elevate your character is to emulate worthy role models.
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The anger of an ape-the threat of a flatterer:-these deserve equal regard.
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If thou wouldst make progress, be content to seem foolish and void of understanding with respect to outward things. Care not to be thought to know anything. If any should make account of thee, distrust thyself. (158).