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
believe educated education free ought people rather
We must not believe the many, who say that only free people ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that only the educated are free
freedom greek-philosopher
Freedom is the right to live as we wish.
freedom philosophical liberty
Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.
freedom men restraint
What is it that every man seeks? To be secure, to be happy, to do what he pleases without restraint and without compulsion.
legs may free-will
You may fetter my leg, but Zeus himself cannot get the better of my free will.
knives freedom-of-speech blunt
We should not have either a blunt knife or a freedom of speech which is ill-managed.
freedom names vices
Freedom and slavery, the one is the name of virtue, and the other of vice, and both are acts of the will.
life lying freedom-and-happiness
Freedom and happiness are won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.
adversity against antagonist cannot case difficulty god men remember rough
Difficulties show men what they are. In case of any difficulty remember that God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil.
disturbed men opinion opinions
Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
disturbed men men-and-women views
Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of them
ears gave hear listening nature tongue twice
Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak.
honour price steal worth
I have a lantern. You steal my lantern. What, then, is your honour worth no more to you than the price of my lantern?
greek-philosopher men
Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.