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
fall desire liberty
He is free who lives as he wishes to live; who is neither subject to compulsion nor to hindrance, nor to force; whose movements to action are not impeded, whose desires attain their purpose, and who does not fall into that which he would avoid.
wise men mind
Appearances to the mind are of four kinds. Things either are what they appear to be; or they neither are, nor appear to be; or they are, and do not appear to be; or they are not, and yet appear to be. Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man's task.
fear men views
Men are not afraid of things, but of how they view them.
wise patience philosophical
The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.
character pay-the-price volunteer
Give yourself fully to your endeavors. Decide to construct your character through excellent actions and determine to pay the price of a worthy goal. The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths.
perception spirituality circumstances
We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.
food cooking silent
Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you and be silent.
life philosophical soul
You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.
inspirational patience greek-philosopher
Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig.
character role-models follow-your-heart
Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.
thank-you cheating brother
If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother.
opportunity trials inward
Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths.
motivational thinking people
What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.
inspire contentment want
Contentment comes not so much from great wealth as from few wants.