Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us, no matter what we are doing?... what do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you?... If you have anything better to be doing when you are so overtaken, get to work on that.
EpictetusWisdom means understanding without any doubt that circumstances do not rise to meet our expectations. Events happen as they may. People behave as they will.
EpictetusWhen 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.'
EpictetusGive me by all means the shorter and nobler life, instead of one that is longer but of less account!
EpictetusFreedom 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.
EpictetusIt is the act of an ill-instructed man to blame others for his own bad condition; it is the act of one who has begun to be instructed, to lay the blame on himself; and of one whose instruction is completed, neither to blame another, nor himself.
EpictetusA ship should not be held by a single anchor; neither should life depend upon a single hope.
EpictetusWe can't control the impressions others form about us, and the effort to do so only debases our character.
EpictetusIt is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.
EpictetusSome things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.
EpictetusA 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.
EpictetusThe soul that companies with virtue is like an ever-flowing source. It is a pure, clear, and wholesome draught, sweet, rich and generous of its store, that injures not, neither destroys.
EpictetusIn a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action, but our inward opinions and principles.
EpictetusEven as the Sun doth not wait for prayers and incantations to rise, but shines forth and is welcomed by all: so thou also wait not for clapping of hands and shouts and praise to do thy duty; nay, do good of thine own accord, and thou wilt be loved like the Sun.
EpictetusWhen you let go of your attention for a little while, do not think you may recover it whenever you please.
EpictetusAuthentic happiness is always independent of external conditions. Vigilantly practice polite indifference to that which we can't control. Your happiness can only be found within.
EpictetusUnremarkable lives are marked by the fear of not looking capable when trying something new.
EpictetusIf thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother.
EpictetusIf anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, "He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.
EpictetusNothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds you back. For your own will is always within your control.
EpictetusNot every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort.
EpictetusIt is not a demonstration of kindness or friendship to the people we care about to join them in indulging in wrongheaded, negative feelings. We do a better service to ourselves and others by remaining detached and avoiding melodramatic reactions.
Epictetus