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Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.
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Act your part with honor.
Epictetus
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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.
Epictetus -
Freedom is the name of virtue: Slavery, of vice…. None is a slave whose acts are free.
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Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.
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Does a Philosopher apply to people to come and hear him? does he not rather, of his own nature, attract those that will be benefited by him-like the sun that warms, and the food that sustains them? (120).
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Happiness and personal fulfillment are the natural consequences of doing the right thing.
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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.
Epictetus
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You are a principal work, a fragment of [Goddess herself], you have in yourself a part of [her]. Why then are you ignorant of your high birth?
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If you seek Truth, you will not seek to gain a victory by every possible means; and when you have found Truth, you need not fear being defeated.
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First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.
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I must die. I must be imprisoned. I must suffer exile. But must I die groaning? Must I whine as well? Can anyone hinder me from going into exile with a smile? The master threatens to chain me: what say you? Chain me? My leg you will chain--yes, but not my will--no, not even Zeus can conquer that.
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In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. Where will I find good and bad? In me, in my choices.
Epictetus -
If a Cynic is an object of pity, he seems a mere beggar; all turn away, all are offended at him. Nor should be be slovenly of look, so as not to scare men from him in this way either; on the contrary, his very roughness should be clean and attractive. (118).
Epictetus
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Do not give sentence in another tribunal till you have been yourself judged in the tribunal of Justice.
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Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.
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As in walking it is your great care not to run your foot upon a nail, or to tread awry, and strain your leg; so let it be in all the affairs of human life, not to hurt your mind or offend your judgment. And this rule, if observed carefully in all your deportment, will be a mighty security to you in your undertakings.
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The origin of sorrow is this: to wish for something that does not come to pass.
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Living a good life leads to enduring happiness. Goodness in and of itself is the practice AND the reward.
Epictetus -
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.
Epictetus
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When our friends are present we ought to treat them well; and when they are absent, to speak of them well.
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In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; but in adversity it is the most difficult of all things.
Epictetus -
Inner peace begins when we stop saying of things, 'I have lost it' and instead say, 'It has been returned to where it came from.' Why should it be any concern of yours who gives your things back to the world that gave them to you? The important thing is to take great care with what you have while the world lets you have it.
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Men are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
Epictetus