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
character reality thinking
Embrace reality. Think about what delights you - the small luxuries on which you depend, the people whom you cherish most. But remember that they have their own distinct character, which is quite a separate matter from how we happen to regard them.
reality habit pleasant
Nothing is in reality either pleasant or unpleasant by nature but all things become so through habit
reality doe realism
A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but yet appears to be; or it is, but does not appear to be; or it is not, and does not appear to be.
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.
death pain real
In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action, but our inward opinions and principles.
wise realizing
The wise realize that some things are within their control, and most things are not. They learn early on to distinguish between what they can and can't regulate.
lying philosophy reality
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
real men anxiety
Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems
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.
abstain appointed avoid cakes cold conditions conflict conquer deal drinks eat exercise fine great hour itself likely mark olympic sports swallow trainer twist whether wine wish wrist
So you wish to conquer in the Olympic games, my friend? And I too, by the Gods, and a fine thing it would be! But first mark the conditions and the consequences, and then set to work. You will have to put yourself under discipline; to eat by rule, to avoid cakes and sweetmeats; to take exercise at the appointed hour whether you like it or no, in cold and heat; to abstain from cold drinks and from wine at your will; in a word, to give yourself over to the trainer as to a physician. Then in the conflict itself you are likely enough to dislocate your wrist or twist your ankle, to swallow a great deal of dust, or to be severely thrashed, and, after all these things, to be defeated.
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.
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
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?