Epictetus Quotes
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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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Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.
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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.
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Things true and evident must of necessity be recognized by those who would contradict them.
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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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Every place is safe to him who lives with justice.
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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.
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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.
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We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.
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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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The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
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Keep death and exile daily before thine eyes, with all else that men deem terrible, but more especially Death. Then wilt thou never think a mean thought, nor covet anything beyond measure. (161).
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What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.
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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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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.
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Happiness is an equivalent for all troublesome things.
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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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Why, do you not know, then, that the origin of all human evils, and of baseness, and cowardice, is not death, but rather the fear of death?
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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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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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God has made all men to be happy.
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Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.
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If any be unhappy, let him remember that he is unhappy by reason of himself alone. For God hath made man to enjoy felicity and constancy of good. (122).
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What hurts this person is not the occurrence itself, for another person might not feel oppressed by this situation at all. What is hurting this person is the response he or she has uncritically adopted. It is not a demonstration of kindness or friendship to the people we care about to join them in indulging in wrongheaded, negative feelings.