Epictetus Quotes
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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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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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The appearance of things to the mind is the standard of every action to man.
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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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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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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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Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.
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The essence of good and evil is a certain disposition of the will.
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Books are the training weights of the mind.
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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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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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It is my business, to manage carefully and dexterously whatever happens.
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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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The soul is unwillingly deprived of truth.
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Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.
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Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can.
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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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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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Think of God oftener than you breathe.
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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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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.