Epictetus Quotes
-
Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.
-
Never say about anything, "I have lost it," but only "I have given it back." Is your child dead? It has been given back. Is your wife dead? She has been returned.
-
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.
-
Remember that you are an actor in a drama of such sort as the Author chooses: if short, then in a short one; if long, then in a long one. If it be His pleasure that you should enact a poor man, or a cripple, or a ruler, or a private citizen, see that you act it well. For this is your business, to act well the given part. But to choose it belongs to Another.
-
Do not so much be ashamed of that disgrace which proceeds from men's opinion as fly from that which comes from the truth.
-
God has made all men to be happy.
-
Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.
-
If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.
-
In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; but in adversity it is the most difficult of all things.
-
The essence of good and evil is a certain disposition of the will.
-
If I can acquire money and also keep myself modest and faithful and magnanimous, point out the way, and I will acquire it.
-
Every place is safe to him who lives with justice.
-
No matter where you find yourself, comport yourself as if you were a distinguished person.
-
It is hard to combine and unite these two qualities, the carefulness of one who is affected by circumstances, and the intrepidity of one who heeds them not. But it is not impossible: else were happiness also impossible.
-
Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed.
-
No one who is in a state of fear or sorrow or tension is free, but whosoever is delivered from sorrows or fears or anxieties is at the same time delivered from servitude.
-
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).
-
It is unreasonable to think we can earn rewards without being willing to pay their true price. It is always our choice whether or not we wish to pay the price for life's rewards.
-
Not things, but opinions about things, trouble men.
-
Not even on finding himself in a well-ordered house does a man step forward and say to himself, I must be master here! Else the lord of that house takes notice of it, and, seeing him insolently giving orders, drags him forth and chastises him. So it is also in the great City, the World. Here also is there a Lord of the House, who orders all things... (110).
-
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
-
Never look for your work in one place and your progress in another.
-
Seemeth it nothing to you, never to accuse, never to blame either God or Man? to wear ever the same countenance in going forth as in coming in? This was the secret of Socrates: yet he never said that he knew or taught anything... Who amongst you makes this his aim? Were it indeed so, you would gladly endure sickness, hunger, aye, death itself. (85).
-
I am not eternity, but a man; a part of the whole, as an hour is of the day.