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
happiness troublesome
Happiness is an equivalent for all troublesome things.
god thinking breathe
Think of God oftener than you breathe.
adversity men ease
There are some things which men confess with ease, and others with difficulty.
men unendurable feels
But to be hanged is that not unendurable?" Even so, when a man feels that it is reasonable, he goes off and hangs himself.
friends adversity prosperity
In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; but in adversity it is the most difficult of all things.
shapes reason disorder
Since it is Reason which shapes and regulates all other things, it ought not itself to be left in disorder.
thinking
Think of God more often than thou breathest.
mind trying bears
We must ever bear in mind --that apart from the will there is nothing good or bad, and that we must not try to anticipate or to direct events, but merely to accept them with intelligence.
world purpose use
There is only one thing for which God has sent me into the world, and that is to develop every kind of virtue or strength, and there is nothing in all the world that I cannot use for this purpose.
contentment delight littles
Contentment, as it is a short road and pleasant, has great delight and little trouble.
singers harmony praise
Bid a singer in a chorus, Know Thyself; and will he not turn for the knowledge to the others, his fellows in the chorus, and to his harmony with them?
mean house soul
You will do the greatest service to the state if you shall raise, not the roofs of the houses, but the souls of the citizens: for it is better that great souls should dwell in small houses rather than for mean slaves to lurk in great houses.
essence evil certain
The essence of good and evil is a certain disposition of the will.
littles not-happy
He who is not happy with little will never be happy with much.