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
men thinking blame
If you think you control things that are in the control of others, you will lament. You will be disturbed and you will blame both gods and men.
anger animal levels
When we act pugnaciously, and injuriously, and angrily, and rudely, to what level have we degenerated? To the level of the wild beasts. Well, the fact is that some of us are wild beasts of a larger size, while others are little animals, malignant and petty.
happens knows
I am always content with what happens; for I know that what God chooses is better than what I choose.
insulting firsts characteristics
It was the first and most striking characteristic of Socrates never to become heated in discourse, never to utter an injurious or insulting word -- on the contrary, he persistently bore insult from others and thus put an end to the fray.
advice upbraid erring
It is better to advise than upbraid, for the one corrects the erring; the other only convicts them.
art faculty certain
Every art and every faculty contemplates certain things as its principal objects.
giving justice sentences
Do not give sentence in another tribunal till you have been yourself judged in the tribunal of Justice.
wise wisdom men
These are the signs of a wise man: to reprove nobody, to praise nobody, to blame nobody, nor even to speak of himself or his own merits.
soul use dread
We all dread a bodily paralysis, and would make use of every contrivance to avoid it; but none of us is troubled about a paralysis of the soul.
giving delight pleasure
Of pleasures, those which occur most rarely give the most delight.
sweet soul rich
A soul which is conversant with virtue is like an ever flowing source, for it is pure and tranquil and potable and sweet and communicative (social) and rich and harmless and free from mischief.
art mind dresses
Dare to look up to God and say, Deal with me in the future as Thou wilt; I am of the same mind as Thou art; I am Thine; I refuse nothing that pleases Thee; lead me where Thou wilt; clothe me in any dress Thou choosest.
choices given resignation
Act well your given part; the choice rests not with you.
prayer soul body
If thou rememberest that God standeth by to behold and visit all that thou doest; whether in the body or in the soul, thou surely wilt not err in any prayer or deed; and thou shalt have God to dwell with thee.