Epictetus > Quotes

“As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.”
― Epictetus

“If a man has reported to you, that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make any defense to what has been told you: but reply, The man did not know the rest of my faults, for he would not have mentioned these only.”
― Epictetus, Enchiridion...

“Remember that you must behave in life as at a dinner party. Is anything brought around to you? Put out your hand and take your share with moderation. Does it pass by you? Don’t stop it. Is it not yet come? Don’t stretch your desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you. Do this with regard to children, to a wife, to public posts, to riches, and you will eventually be a worthy partner of the feasts of the gods. And if you don’t even take the things which are set before you, but are able even to reject them, then you will not only be a partner at the feasts of the gods, but also of their empire.”
― Epictetus, The Enchiridion & Discourses of Epictetus

“Whenever anyone criticizes or wrongs you, remember that they are only doing or saying what they think is right. They cannot be guided by your views, only their own; so if their views are wrong, they are the ones who suffer insofar as they are misguided.”
― Epictetus, Discourses and Selected Writings

“Very little is needed for everything to be upset and ruined, only a slight lapse in reason.”
― Epictetus

“A city is not adorned by external things, but by the virtue of those who dwell in it.”
― Epictetus, Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses

“Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinion about the things.”
― Epictetus, Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses

“Remind thyself that he whom thou lovest is mortal — that what
thou lovest is not thine own; it is given thee for the present, not
irrevocably nor for ever, but even as a fig or a bunch of grapes at
the appointed season of the year”
― Epictetus

“You will do the greatest services to the state, if you shall raise not the roofs of the houses, but the souls of the citizens: for it is better that great souls should dwell in small houses than for mean slaves to lurk in great houses.”
― Epictetus, Enchiridion

“Whoever then would be free, let him wish for nothing, let him decline nothing, which depends on others; else he must necessarily be a slave.”
― Epictetus Epictetus, The Enchiridion of Epictetus - A Classic Handbook of Stoic Philosophy and Practical Wisdom

“Sick and yet happy, in peril and yet happy, dying and yet happy, in exile and happy, in disgrace and happy.”
― Epictetus

“When you do anything from a clear judgment that it ought to be done, never shrink from being seen to do it, even though the world should misunderstand it; for if you are not acting rightly, shun the action itself; if you are, why fear those who wrongly censure you?”
― Epictetus, Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses

“Everyone's life is a warfare, and that long and various.”
― Epictetus

“If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother.”
― Epictetus

“Keep the prospect of death, exile and all such apparent tragedies before you every day – especially death – and you will never have an abject thought, or desire anything to excess.”
― Epictetus, Discourses and Selected Writings

“For sheep don't throw up the grass to show the shepherds how much they have eaten; but, inwardly digesting their food, they outwardly produce wool and milk.”
― Epictetus, The Art of Living: The Classic Manual on Virtue, Happiness & Effectiveness

“It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgements concerning them.”
― Epictetus, Discourses and Selected Writings

“It is a universal law — have no illusion — that every creature alive is attached to nothing so much as to its own self-interest.”
― Epictetus, Discourses and Selected Writings

“People with a strong physical constitution can tolerate extremes of hot and cold; people of strong mental health can handle anger, grief, joy and the other emotions.”
― Epictetus, Discourses and Selected Writings

“First say to yourself what you would be, and then do what you have to do.”
― Epictetus

“Circumstances do not rise to meet our expectations. Events happen as they do. People behave as they are. Embrace what you actually get.”
― Epictetus, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness

“The condition and characteristic of an uninstructed person is this: he never expects from himself profit (advantage) nor harm, but from externals. The condition and characteristic of a philosopher is this: he expects all advantage and all harm from himself.”
― Epictetus, Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses

“If you want to improve, you must be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”
― Epictetus

“no man is free until he s a master of himself!!”
― epictitus

“Here are thieves and robbers and tribunals: and they that are called tyrants, who deem that they have after a fashion power over us, because of the miserable body and what appertains to it. Let us show them that they have power over none.”
― Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of Epictetus

“Never call yourself a philosopher, nor talk a great deal among the unlearned about theorems, but act conformably to them. Thus, at an entertainment, don’t talk how persons ought to eat, but eat as you ought. For remember that in this manner Socrates also universally avoided all ostentation. And when persons came to him and desired to be recommended by him to philosophers, he took and recommended them, so well did he bear being overlooked. So that if ever any talk should happen among the unlearned concerning philosophic theorems, be you, for the most part, silent. For there is great danger in immediately throwing out what you have not digested. And, if anyone tells you that you know nothing, and you are not nettled at it, then you may be sure that you have begun your business. For sheep don’t throw up the grass to show the shepherds how much they have eaten; but, inwardly digesting their food, they outwardly produce wool and milk. Thus, therefore, do you likewise not show theorems to the unlearned, but the actions produced by them after they have been digested.”
― Epictetus, The Enchiridion & Discourses of Epictetus

“If you ever happen to turn your attention to externals, for the pleasure of any one, be assured that you have ruined your scheme of life. Be contented, then, in everything, with being a philosopher; and if you with to seem so likewise to any one, appear so to yourself, and it will suffice you.”
― Epictetus Epictetus, The Enchiridion of Epictetus - A Classic Handbook of Stoic Philosophy and Practical Wisdom

“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”
― Epictetus

“Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the living, and her eyes they blind.”
― Epictetus

“There is a time and place for diversion and amusements, but you should never allow them to override your true purposes.”
― Epictetus, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness