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
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
justice safe
Every place is safe to him who lives with justice.
running action habit
Every habit and faculty is preserved and increased by correspondent actions, as the habit of walking, by walking; of running, by running.
evident
Things true and evident must of necessity be recognized by those who would contradict them.
thinking sorrow wish
If you wish to live a life free from sorrow, think of what is going to happen as if it had already happened.
friends speak treats
When our friends are present we ought to treat them well; and when they are absent, to speak of them well.
running hurt feet
As in walking it is your great care not to run your foot upon a nail, or to tread awry, and strain your leg; so let it be in all the affairs of human life, not to hurt your mind or offend your judgment. And this rule, if observed carefully in all your deportment, will be a mighty security to you in your undertakings.
cowardice dread happens
Cowardice, the dread of what will happen.
physicians discrimination ought
You ought to choose both physician and friend, not the most agreeable, but the most useful.
giving wicked charity
It is wicked to withdraw from being useful to the needy, and cowardly to give way to the worthless.