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
height size principles
Reason is not measured by size or height, but by principle.
littles use foolish
The foolish and the uneducated have little use for freedom. Only the educated are free.
envy antagonist fortunate
Envy is the antagonist of the fortunate.
believe wish firsts
If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.
respect philosophy tolerance
The beginning of philosophy is the recognition of the conflict between opinions.
adversity thinking land
As it is pleasant to see the sea from the land, so it is pleasant for him who has escaped from troubles to think of them.
mind down-and principles
If what charms you is nothing but abstract principles, sit down and turn them over quietly in your mind: but never dub yourself a Philosopher.
men fancy alarms
What disturbs and alarms man are not the things, but his opinions and fancies about the things.
suffering legs conquer
I must die. I must be imprisoned. I must suffer exile. But must I die groaning? Must I whine as well? Can anyone hinder me from going into exile with a smile? The master threatens to chain me: what say you? Chain me? My leg you will chain--yes, but not my will--no, not even Zeus can conquer that.
attitude long doe
When one maintains his proper attitude in life, he does not long after externals.
knives freedom-of-speech blunt
We should not have either a blunt knife or a freedom of speech which is ill-managed.
progress blame remember
Nothing outside the will can hinder or harm the will; it can only harm itself. If then we accept this, and, when things go amiss, are inclined to blame ourselves, remembering that judgment alone can disturb our peace and constancy, I swear to you by all the gods that we have made progress.
life motivational happiness
All human beings seek the happy life, but many confuse the means - for example, wealth and status - with that life itself. This misguided focus on the means to a good life makes people get further from the happy life. The really worthwhile things are the virtuous activities that make up the happy life, not the external means that may seem to produce it.
pain pleasure
Pain or pleasure? I say pleasure.