Epictetus
Epictetus
Epictetuswas a Greek-speaking Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia, and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in north-western Greece for the rest of his life. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses and Enchiridion...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPhilosopher
fall self worry
Freedom and happiness come from understanding - and working with - our limits. Begin at once a program of self-mastery. Stick with your purpose. Do not seek external approval. Do not worry about anything outside of your control. The only things you command are your thoughts and actions. We choose our response. Stop aspiring to be anyone other than your own best self: for that does fall within your control.
men views mind
It is not events that disturb the minds of men, but the view they take of them.
hurt thinking views
Things themselves don't hurt or hinder us. Things simply are what they are. How we view these things is another matter.People think what they will think; it is of no concern to us.
impossible should yearning
It is impossible that happiness, and yearning for what is not present, should ever be united.
life desire opinion
Learn to distinguish what you can and can't control. Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, desires and the things that repel us. They are directly subject to our influence.
communication athlete people
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.
habit
To make anything a habit, do it; to not make it a habit, do not do it; to unmake a habit, do something else in place of it.
purple white long
Seek to be the purple thread in the long white gown.
children ignorance parenting
What is a child? Ignorance. What is a child? Want of instruction.
feet waiting trying
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.
men faults
There are some faults which men readily admit, but others not so readily.
men choices masters
No man is free who is not master of himself... Is freedom anything else than the power of living as we choose?
self blame ill
It is the part of an uneducated person to blame others where he himself fares ill; to blame himself is the part of one whose education has begun; to blame neither another nor his own self is the part of one whose education is already complete.
matter use indifference
The materials are indifferent, but the use we make of them is not a matter of indifference.