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
inspirational philosophical knowledge
It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.
character effort theft
We can't control the impressions others form about us, and the effort to do so only debases our character.
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.
ideas imagination duration
When the idea of any pleasure strikes your imagination, make a just computation between the duration of the pleasure and that of the repentance that is likely to follow it.
anger giving wish
If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase.
desire fleeting superficial
The flourishing life cannot be achieved until we moderate our desires and see how superficial and fleeting they are.
happiness giving delight
The pleasure which we most rarely experience gives us greatest delight.
courage men difficulty
It is difficulties that show what men are.
men oxford opinion
Not things, but opinions about things, trouble men.
fitness heart soul
It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it.
inspirational attitude anger
Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.
inspirational happiness happy
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
style connections eloquent
These reasonings are unconnected: "I am richer than you, therefore I am better"; "I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am better." The connection is rather this: "I am richer than you, therefore my property is greater than yours;" "I am more eloquent than you, therefore my style is better than yours." But you, after all, are neither property nor style.
life hope niece
Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.