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
good-life practice rewards
Living a good life leads to enduring happiness. Goodness in and of itself is the practice AND the reward.
purple complaining slave
If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave, though he be clad in purple.
life views trying
Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself.
soul hook bait
Pleasure, like a kind of bait, is thrown before everything which is really bad, and easily allures greedy souls to the hook of perdition.
real progress apologizing
To know that you do not know and to be willing to admit that you do not know without sheepishly apologizing is real strength and sets the stage for learning and progress in any endeavor.
perfection promise progress
If virtue promises happiness, prosperity and peace, then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us, progress is always an approach toward it.
helping best-place
The best place to get help is from yourself.
scary mask bites
What is death? A scary mask. Take it off-see, it doesn't bite.
desire disappointing
To get or not to get what we desire can be equally disappointing.
life prayer hands
Even as the Sun doth not wait for prayers and incantations to rise, but shines forth and is welcomed by all: so thou also wait not for clapping of hands and shouts and praise to do thy duty; nay, do good of thine own accord, and thou wilt be loved like the Sun.
men stay-positive choices
I must die. Must I then die lamenting? I must be put in chains. Must I then also lament? I must go into exile. Does any man then hinder me from going with smiles and cheerfulness and contentment?
writing wish ifs
If you wish to write, write.
ignorant birth goddess
You are a principal work, a fragment of [Goddess herself], you have in yourself a part of [her]. Why then are you ignorant of your high birth?
taken judgement wells
It is not my place in society that makes me well off, but my judgements, and these I can carry with me... These alone are my own and cannot be taken away.