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
positive encouraging uplifting
The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
practice ifs habitual
Whatever you would make habitual, practice it; and if you would not make a thing habitual, do not practice it, but accustom yourself to something else.
Seek not the good in external things;seek it in yourselves.
best-wishes wish ecstasy
Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes, but wish for them as they are, and you will find them.
luck progress working-on-yourself
Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.
food mind bears
Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.
evil betrayed libertarian
Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit.
lying philosophy reality
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
mean eye men
You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at various prices. This is why, when Florus was deliberating whether he should appear at Nero's shows, taking part in the performance himself, Agrippinus replied, 'Appear by all means.' And when Florus inquired, 'But why do not you appear?' he answered, 'Because I do not even consider the question.' For the man who has once stooped to consider such questions, and to reckon up the value of external things, is not far from forgetting what manner of man he is.
order purpose please
In order to please others, we loose our hold on our life's purpose.
forget profit communes
At every occasion in your life, do not forget to commune with yourself and ask of yourself how you can profit by it.
inspirational happiness confidence
Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy, though he be master of the world.
office desire body
Some things are up to us [eph' hêmin] and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions–in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing.
sports philosophical perfection
One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent.