Epictetus Quotes
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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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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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A guide, on finding a man who has lost his way, brings him back to the right path-he does not mock and jeer at him and then take himself off. You also must show the unlearned man the truth, and you will see that he will follow. But so long as you do not show it him, you should not mock, but rather feel your own incapacity. (63).
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Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.
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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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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.
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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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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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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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Do not try to seem wise to others.
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You ought to choose both physician and friend, not the most agreeable, but the most useful.
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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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Do not give sentence in another tribunal till you have been yourself judged in the tribunal of Justice.
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We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.
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Reason is not measured by size or height, but by principle.
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Don't demand or expect that events happen as you would wish them do. Accept events as they actually happen. That way, peace is possible.
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Inner peace begins when we stop saying of things, 'I have lost it' and instead say, 'It has been returned to where it came from.' Why should it be any concern of yours who gives your things back to the world that gave them to you? The important thing is to take great care with what you have while the world lets you have it.
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I must die. I must be imprisoned. I must suffer exile. But must I die groaning? Must I whine as well? Can anyone hinder me from going into exile with a smile? The master threatens to chain me: what say you? Chain me? My leg you will chain--yes, but not my will--no, not even Zeus can conquer that.
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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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Freedom is the right to live as we wish.
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Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.
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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.
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If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase. At first, keep quiet and count the days when you were not angry: "I used to be angry every day, then every other day: next, every two, then every three days!" and if you succeed in passing thirty days, sacrifice to the gods in thanksgiving.
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You may be always victorious if you will never enter into any contest where the issue does not wholly depend upon yourself.