Epictetus Quotes

Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself.

Whoever then wishes to be free, let him neither wish for anything nor avoid anything which depends on others: if he does not observe this rule, he must be a slave.

Common and vulgar people ascribe all ills that they feel to others; people of little wisdom ascribe to themselves; people of much wisdom, to no one.

Desire and happiness cannot live together.

Covetousness like jealousy, when it has taken root, never leaves a person, but with their life. Cowardice is the dread of what will happen.

Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.

Whoever wants to be free, therefore, let him not want or avoid anything that is up to others. Otherwise he will necessarily be a slave.

Freedom and slavery, the one is the name of virtue, and the other of vice, and both are acts of the will.

Once you know who you are and to whom you are linked, you will know what to do

When you let go of your attention for a little while, do not think you may recover it whenever you please.

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

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

It is no easy thing for a principle to become a man's own unless each day he maintains it and works it out in his life.

The wise realize that some things are within their control, and most things are not. They learn early on to distinguish between what they can and can't regulate.

You ought to choose both physician and friend, not the most agreeable, but the most useful.

Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.

Whatever you would make habitual, practice it; and if you would not make a thing habitual, do not practice it, but accustom yourself to something else.

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

Cowardice, the dread of what will happen.

If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase.

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.

Pleasure, like a kind of bait, is thrown before everything which is really bad, and easily allures greedy souls to the hook of perdition.

Exceed due measure, and the most delightful things become the least delightful.

The cause of all human evils is the not being able to apply general principles to special cases.

Living a good life leads to enduring happiness. Goodness in and of itself is the practice AND the reward.

First tell yourself what you want to be, then do what you need to do.

To live a life of virtue, match up your thoughts, words, and deeds.

Men are not troubled by things themselves, but by their thoughts about them

Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can.

Ask yourself, "How are my thoughts, words and deeds affecting my friends, my spouse, my neighbour, my child, my employer, my subordinates, my fellow citizens?"

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

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

Never say about anything, "I have lost it," but only "I have given it back." Is your child dead? It has been given back. Is your wife dead? She has been returned.

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.

Not things, but opinions about things, trouble men.

Be not swept off your feet by the vividness of the impression, but say, "Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what you are and what you represent. Let me try you."

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.

It is unreasonable to think we can earn rewards without being willing to pay their true price. It is always our choice whether or not we wish to pay the price for life's rewards.

When your thoughts, words, and deeds form a seamless fabric, you streamline your efforts and thus eliminate worry and dread.

It is difficulties that show what men are.

We do not choose our own parts in life, and have nothing to do with those parts. Our duty is confined to playing them well.

You may be always victorious if you will never enter into any contest where the issue does not wholly depend upon yourself.

If a person had delivered up your body to some passer-by, you would certainly be angry. And do you feel no shame in delivering up your own mind to any reviler, to be disconcerted and confounded?

Act your part with honor.

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

Men are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.

To know that you do not know and to be willing to admit that you do not know without sheepishly apologizing is real strength and sets the stage for learning and progress in any endeavor.

If a man is unhappy, remember that his unhappiness is his own fault, for God made all men to be happy.

Know you not that a good man does nothing for appearance sake, but for the sake of having done right?

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