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
brother kindness two
Everything has two handles; the one soft and manageable, the other such as will not endure to be touched. If then your brother do you an injury, do not take it by the hot hard handle, by representing to yourself all the aggravating circumstances of the fact; but look rather on the soft side, and extenuate it as much as is possible, by considering the nearness of the relation, and the long friendship and familiarity between you--obligations to kindness which a single provocation ought not to dissolve. And thus you will take the accident by its manageable handle.
two evil principles
Two principles we should always have ready — that there is nothing good or evil save in the will; and that we are not to lead events, but to follow them.
two quality impossible
It is hard to combine and unite these two qualities, the carefulness of one who is affected by circumstances, and the intrepidity of one who heeds them not. But it is not impossible: else were happiness also impossible.
gratitude two may
Everything has two handles,-one by which it may be borne; another by which it cannot.
jobs two choices
In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. Where will I find good and bad? In me, in my choices.
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?
comfort destiny fate god hand moved strict worst
A strict belief, fate is the worst kind of slavery; on the other hand there is comfort in the thought that God will be moved by our prayers.
events happen instead life seek
Do not seek to have events happen as you want them to, but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well
freedom greek-philosopher
Freedom is the right to live as we wish.