Epictetus Quotes
-
Don't just say you have read books. Show that through them you have learned to think better, to be a more discriminating and reflective person. Books are the training weights of the mind. They are very helpful, but it would be a bad mistake to suppose that one has made progress simply by having internalized their contents." Translation by Sharon Lebell.
-
The soul's impurity consists in bad judgements, and purification consists in producing in it right judgements, and the pure soul is one which has right judgements, for this alone is proof against confusion and pollution in its functions.
-
The foolish and the uneducated have little use for freedom. Only the educated are free.
-
If you have assumed a character beyond your strength, you have both played a poor figure in that, and neglected one that is within your powers. (79).
-
Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours.
-
What is yours is to play the assigned part well. But to choose it belongs to someone else.
-
He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.
-
Appear to know only this,-never to fail nor fall.
-
Remember that it is not he who gives abuse or blows who affronts, but the view we take of these things as insulting. When, therefore, any one provokes you, be assured that it is your own opinion which provokes you. (20).
-
No greater thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.
-
Pain or pleasure? I say pleasure.
-
If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself: 'I used to be angry every day; then every other day; now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods.
-
Refuse altogether to take an oath if you can, if not, as far as may be. (166).
-
All religions must be tolerated... for every man must get to heaven in his own way.
-
You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.
-
Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.
-
Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, and desires and the demons that distract us from these goals. Outside of our control are such things as what kind of body we have, whether or not we are born into wealth, and how we are regarded by others.
-
Even as bad actors cannot sing alone, but only in chorus: so some cannot walk alone. Man, if thou art aught, strive to walk alone and hold converse with yourself, instead of skulking in the chorus! at length think; look around thee; bestir thyself, that thou mayest know who thou art! (103).
-
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
-
If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave, though he be clad in purple.
-
It is not a demonstration of kindness or friendship to the people we care about to join them in indulging in wrongheaded, negative feelings. We do a better service to ourselves and others by remaining detached and avoiding melodramatic reactions.
-
Although we can't control which roles are assigned to us, it must be our business to act our given role as best we possibly can and to refrain from complaining about it. Where ever you find yourself and in whatever circumstances, give an impeccable performance.
-
'If the room is smoky, if only moderately, I will stay; if there is too much smoke I will go. Remember this, keep a firm hold on it, the door is always open.'
-
What is it that every man seeks? To be secure, to be happy, to do what he pleases without restraint and without compulsion.