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
events providence
We are not to lead events, but to follow them.
men action philosopher
If what the philosophers say be true, that all men's actions proceed from one source; that as they assent from a persuasion that a thing is so, and dissent from a persuasion that it is not, and suspend their judgment from a persuasion that it is uncertain, so likewise they seek a thing from a persuasion that it is for their advantage.
brother father son
O slavish man! will you not bear with your own brother, who has God for his Father, as being a son from the same stock, and of the same high descent? But if you chance to be placed in some superior station, will you presently set yourself up for a tyrant?
money faithful way
If I can acquire money and also keep myself modest and faithful and magnanimous, point out the way, and I will acquire it.
evil soul body
Fortune is an evil chain to the body, and vice to the soul.
courage greatness endurance
And have you not received faculties which will enable you to bear all that happens to you? Have you not received greatness of spirit? Have you not received courage? Have you not received endurance?
ships gains firsts
Lampis the ship owner, on being asked how he acquired his great wealth, replied, My great wealth was acquired with no difficulty, but my small wealth, my first gains, with much labor.
life duty wells
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.
succeed would-be strive
If you would be well spoken of, learn to be well-spoken; and having learnt to be well- spoken, strive also to be well-doing; so shall you succeed in being well spoken of.
desire body aversion
Some 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.
whatever-happens happens manage
It is my business, to manage carefully and dexterously whatever happens
men opinion ashamed
Do not so much be ashamed of that disgrace which proceeds from men's opinion as fly from that which comes from the truth.
want slave be-a-slave
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.
excellence
Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own