Epictetus Quotes
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Every art and every faculty contemplates certain things as its principal objects.
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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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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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God has made all men to be happy.
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If I can acquire money and also keep myself modest and faithful and magnanimous, point out the way, and I will acquire it.
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Think of God oftener than you breathe.
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Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.
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It is a mark of a mean capacity to spend much time on the things which concern the body, such as much exercise, much eating, much drinking, much easing of the body, much copulation. But these things should be done as subordinate things: and let all your care be directed to the mind.
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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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Men are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
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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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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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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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Act your part with honor.
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Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed.
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Happiness and personal fulfillment are the natural consequences of doing the right thing.
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Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can.
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Books are the training weights of the mind.
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Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.
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You will do the greatest service to the state if you shall raise, not the roofs of the houses, but the souls of the citizens: for it is better that great souls should dwell in small houses rather than for mean slaves to lurk in great houses.
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Do not so much be ashamed of that disgrace which proceeds from men's opinion as fly from that which comes from the truth.
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Watch yourself as you go about your daily business and later reflect on what you saw, trying to identify the sources of distress in your life and thinking about how to avoid that distress.
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The essence of good and evil is a certain disposition of the will.
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If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.