Epictetus Quotes
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In every affair consider what precedes and what follows, and then undertake it.
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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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Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.
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Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort.
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An ignorant person is inclined to blame others for his own misfortune. To blame oneself is proof of progress. But the wise man never has to blame another or himself.
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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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Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.
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The soul is unwillingly deprived of truth.
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When we are invited to a banquet, we take what is set before us; and were one to call upon his host to set fish upon the table or sweet things, he would be deemed absurd. Yet in a word, we ask the Gods for what they do not give; and that, although they have given us so many things! (35).
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It is more necessary for the soul to be cured than the body; for it is better to die than to live badly.
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When therefore we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved, let us never attribute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own principles. An uninstructed person will lay the fault of his own bad condition upon others. Someone just starting instruction will lay the fault on himself. Some who is perfectly instructed will place blame neither on others nor on himself.
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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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It is unlikely that the good of a snail should reside in its shell: so is it likely that the good of a man should?
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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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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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To know that you do not know and to be willing to admit that you do not know without sheepishly apologizing is real strength and sets the stage for learning and progress in any endeavor.
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Happiness is an equivalent for all troublesome things.
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If what the philosophers say be true,-that all men's actions proceed from one source; that as they assent from a persuasion that a thing is so, and dissent from a persuasion that it is not, and suspend their judgment from a persuasion that it is uncertain,-so likewise they seek a thing from a persuasion that it is for their advantage.
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Think of God oftener than you breathe.
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What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.
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Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.
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'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.'
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Every art and every faculty contemplates certain things as its principal objects.
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There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.