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
changed knows
Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can.
dues exceed delightful
Exceed due measure, and the most delightful things become the least delightful.
truth opinion conquer
It is better by assenting to truth to conquer opinion, than by assenting to opinion to be conquered by truth.
needs
No living being is held by anything so strongly as its own needs.
knowledge wish trust-yourself
If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and if you shall seem to someone to be a person of importance, distrust yourself.
grateful humble mind
Any one thing in the creation is sufficient to demonstrate a Providence to a humble and grateful mind.
prison
Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.
power conquer invincible
You can be invincible, if you enter into no contest in which it is not in your power to conquer.
lying stupid men
If we are not stupid or insincere when we say that the good or ill of man lies within his own will, and that all beside is nothing to us, why are we still troubled?
may unreasonable creatures
To a reasonable creature, that alone is insupportable which is unreasonable; but everything reasonable may be supported.
height size principles
Reason is not measured by size or height, but by principle.
littles use foolish
The foolish and the uneducated have little use for freedom. Only the educated are free.
envy antagonist fortunate
Envy is the antagonist of the fortunate.
believe wish firsts
If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.