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
confidence should belief-in-self
We should do everything both cautiously and confidently at the same time.
impossible should yearning
It is impossible that happiness, and yearning for what is not present, should ever be united.
fear poverty should
We must be afraid of neither poverty nor exile nor imprisonment; of fear itself only should we be afraid.
wish flow should
Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.
wish doe should
Learn to wish that everything should come to pass exactly as it does.
anchors ships should
A ship should not be held by a single anchor; neither should life depend upon a single hope.
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.
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
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?
freedom greek-philosopher
Freedom is the right to live as we wish.
greek-philosopher men
Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.