Epictetus Quotes
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No man is free who is not master of himself.
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Opportunity beckons more surely when misfortune comes upon a person than it ever does when that person is riding the crest of a wave of success. It sharpens a person's wits, if that person will let it, enabling him or her to see more clearly and evaluate situations with a more knowledgeable judgment.
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A soul that makes virtue its companion is like an over-flowing well, for it is clean and pellucid, sweet and wholesome, open to all, rich, blameless and indestructible.
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The soul is unwillingly deprived of truth.
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Once you know who you are and to whom you are linked, you will know what to do.
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Men are not worried by things, but by their ideas about things. When we meet with difficulties, become anxious or troubled, let us not blame others, but rather ourselves. That is: our ideas about things.
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The essence of good and evil is a certain disposition of the will.
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As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.
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Freedom is the name of virtue: Slavery, of vice…. None is a slave whose acts are free.
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When you have decided that a thing ought to be done, and are doing it, never shun being seen doing it, even though the multitude should be likely to judge the matter amiss. For if you are not acting rightly, shun the act itself; if rightly, however, why fear misplaced censure? (172).
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Give me by all means the shorter and nobler life, instead of one that is longer but of less account!
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'But to be hanged-is that not unendurable?' Even so, when a man feels that it is reasonable, he goes off and hangs himself.
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If anyone should tell you that a particular person has spoken critically of you, don't bother with excuses or defenses. Just smile and reply, "I guess that person doesn't know about all my other faults. Otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned only these."
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Forgiveness is better than revenge, for forgiveness is the sign of a gentle nature, but revenge is the sign of a savage nature. the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
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It is my business, to manage carefully and dexterously whatever happens.
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Let not another's disobedience to Nature become an ill to you; for you were not born to be depressed and unhappy with others, but to be happy with them. And if any is unhappy, remember that he is so for himself; for God made all men to enjoy felicity and peace.
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Who is not attracted by bright and pleasant children, to prattle, to creep, and to play with them?
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The wise realize that some things are within their control, and most things are not. They learn early on to distinguish between what they can and can't regulate.
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Books are the training weights of the mind.
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From now on practice saying to everything that appears unpleasant: You are merely an appearance and NOT what you appear to be.
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Give thyself more diligently to reflection: know thyself: take counsel with the Godhead; without God put thine hand into nothing. (115).
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Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself.
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Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.
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Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can.