Epictetus Quotes

To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete.

First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.

If someone speaks badly of you, do not defend yourself against the accusations, but reply; you obviously don't know about my other vices, otherwise you would have mentioned these as well

You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.

No man is free who is not master of himself.

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.

If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

If you would be good, first believe you are bad.

Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you and be silent.

No great thing is created suddenly.

If you wish to be a writer, write.

Control thy passions lest they take vengence on thee.

If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself: 'I used to be angry every day; then every other day; now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods.

You may fetter my leg, but Zeus himself cannot get the better of my free will.

On the occasion of every accident that befalls you, remember to turn to yourself and inquire what power you have for turning it to use.

No greater thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.

The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.

Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.

Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire.

Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.

Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.

We are not to give credit to the many, who say that none ought to be educated but the free; but rather to the philosophers, who say that the well-educated alone are free.

What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.

Difficulties show men what they are. In case of any difficulty, remember that God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil.

It is not death or pain that is to be dreaded, but the fear of pain or death.

He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.

It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it.

When a man is proud because he can understand and explain the writings of Chrysippus, say to yourself, 'if Chrysippus had not written obscurely, this man would have had nothing to be proud of.'

All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.

Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.

Man is troubled not by events, but by the meaning he gives them.

He who exercises wisdom exercises the knowledge which is about God.

The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.

There is nothing good or evil save in the will.

A man that seeks truth and loves it must be reckoned precious to any human society.

It is difficulties that show what men are.

In every affair consider what precedes and what follows, and then undertake it

The good or ill of a man lies within his own will.

Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.

The soul's impurity consists in bad judgments, and purification consists in producing in it right judgments, and the pure soul is one which has right judgments.

Do not seek to have events happen as you want them to, but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well

A child understands fear and the hurt and hate it brings.

Let death be daily before your eyes, and you will never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.

Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.

Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.

Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy, though he be master of the world.

It is the sign of a dull mind to dwell upon the cares of the body, to prolong exercise, eating and drinking and other bodily functions. These things are best done by the way; all your attention must be given to the mind.

Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit.

Confident because of our caution

Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant.

God has entrusted me with myself.

Freedom is the right to live as we wish.

Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed.

Everything has two handles,-one by which it may be borne; another by which it cannot.