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
faults principles blame
When therefore we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved, let us never attribute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own principles. An uninstructed person will lay the fault of his own bad condition upon others. Someone just starting instruction will lay the fault on himself. Some who is perfectly instructed will place blame neither on others nor on himself.
swans roles praise
If I was a nightingale I would sing like a nightingale; if a swan, like a swan. But since I am a rational creature my role is to praise God.
lying people trying
In trying to please other people, we find ourselves misdirected toward what lies outside our sphere of influence. In doing so, we lose our hold on our lifes purpose.
changed knows
Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can.
dues exceed delightful
Exceed due measure, and the most delightful things become the least delightful.
truth opinion conquer
It is better by assenting to truth to conquer opinion, than by assenting to opinion to be conquered by truth.
needs
No living being is held by anything so strongly as its own needs.
knowledge wish trust-yourself
If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and if you shall seem to someone to be a person of importance, distrust yourself.
grateful humble mind
Any one thing in the creation is sufficient to demonstrate a Providence to a humble and grateful mind.
prison
Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.
power conquer invincible
You can be invincible, if you enter into no contest in which it is not in your power to conquer.
lying stupid men
If we are not stupid or insincere when we say that the good or ill of man lies within his own will, and that all beside is nothing to us, why are we still troubled?
two evil principles
Two principles we should always have ready — that there is nothing good or evil save in the will; and that we are not to lead events, but to follow them.
may unreasonable creatures
To a reasonable creature, that alone is insupportable which is unreasonable; but everything reasonable may be supported.