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
evil betrayed libertarian
Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit.
lying philosophy reality
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
mean eye men
You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at various prices. This is why, when Florus was deliberating whether he should appear at Nero's shows, taking part in the performance himself, Agrippinus replied, 'Appear by all means.' And when Florus inquired, 'But why do not you appear?' he answered, 'Because I do not even consider the question.' For the man who has once stooped to consider such questions, and to reckon up the value of external things, is not far from forgetting what manner of man he is.
order purpose please
In order to please others, we loose our hold on our life's purpose.
forget profit communes
At every occasion in your life, do not forget to commune with yourself and ask of yourself how you can profit by it.
inspirational happiness confidence
Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy, though he be master of the world.
office desire body
Some things are up to us [eph' hêmin] and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions–in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing.
sports philosophical perfection
One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent.
giving people purpose
Don't be concerned with other people's impressions of you. They are dazzled and deluded by appearances. Stick with your purpose. This alone will strengthen your will and give your life coherence.
philosophical anchors childhood
We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope.
wisdom philosophical men
The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.
swans nightingales
Were I a nightingale, I would act the part of a nightingale; were I a swan, the part of a swan.
moving creative feelings
When you actively engage in gradually refining yourself, you retreat from your lazy ways of covering yourself or making excuses. Instead of feeling a persistent current of low-level shame, you move forward by using the creative possibilities of this moment, your current situation.
ruins recovering
Ruin and recovering are both from within.