Epictetus Quotes

It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.

Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.

Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.

Don't be concerned with other people's impressions of you. They are dazzled and deluded by appearances. Stick with your purpose. This alone will strengthen your will and give your life coherence.

There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.

When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.

I have to die. If it is now, well then I die now; if later, then now I will take my lunch, since the hour for lunch has arrived - and dying I will tend to later.

Be careful whom you associate with. It is human to imitate the habits of those with whom we interact. We inadvertently adopt their interests, their opinions, their values, and their habit of interpreting events.

From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do -- now.

Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals. Once you have determined the spiritual principles you wish to exemplify, abide by these rules as if they were laws, as if it were indeed sinful to compromise them. Don't mind if others don't share your convictions. How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be? Your nobler self cannot wait any longer.

Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours.

Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it.

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

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

You can be happy if you know this secret: Some things are within your power to control and some things are not.

Freedom and happiness are won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.

He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.

As you think, so you become.....Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and interpreting signs that aren't there.

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.

It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope.

It is our attitude toward events, not events themselves, which we can control. Nothing is by its own nature calamitous -- even death is terrible only if we fear it.

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

What matters most is what sort of person you are becoming. Wise individuals care only about whom they are today and who they can be tomorrow.

It is difficulties that show what men are. For the future, in case of any difficulty, remember that God, like a gymnastic trainer, has pitted you against a rough antagonist. For what end? That you may be an Olympic conqueror; and this cannot be without toil.

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

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

At this time is freedom anything but the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.

It's so simple really: If you say you're going to do something, do it. If you start something, finish it.

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.

Only the educated are free.

Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, and desires and the demons that distract us from these goals. Outside of our control are such things as what kind of body we have, whether or not we are born into wealth, and how we are regarded by others.

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

And be silent for the most part, or else make only the most necessary remarks, and express these in few words. But rarely, and when occasion requires you to talk, talk, indeed, but about no ordinary topics. Do not talk about gladiators, or horseraces, or athletes, or things to eat or drink - topics that arise on all occasions; but above all, do not talk about people, either blaming, or praising, or comparing them.

No matter what happens, it is within my power to turn it to my advantage.

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

Books are the training weights of the mind.

Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly.

Who exactly do you want to be? What kind of person do you want to be? What are your personal ideals? Whom do you admire? What are their special traits that you would make your own It's time to stop being vague. If you wish to be an extraordinary person, if you wish to become wise, then you should explicitly identify the kind of person you aspire to become. If you have a daybook, write down who you're trying to be, so that you can refer to this self-determination. Precisely describe the demeanor you want to adopt so that you may preserve it when you are by yourself or with other people.

Authentic happiness is always independent of external conditions.

In trying to please other people, we find ourselves misdirected toward what lies outside our sphere of influence. In doing so, we lose our hold on our lifes purpose.

The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.

No great thing is created suddenly. There must be time. Give your best and always be kind.

The soul's impurity consists in bad judgements, and purification consists in producing in it right judgements, and the pure soul is one which has right judgements, for this alone is proof against confusion and pollution in its functions.

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

When we blather about trivial things, we ourselves become trivial, for our attention gets taken up with trivialities. You become what you give your attention to.

Renew every day your conversation with God: Do this even in preference to eating. Think more often of God than you breathe.

Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control. Stop aspiring to be anyone other than your own best self: for that does fall within your control.