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
purple white long
Seek to be the purple thread in the long white gown.
irritated remember judgment
If someone irritates you, it is only your own response that is irritating you. Therefore, when anyone seems to be provoking you, remember that it is only your judgment of the incident that provokes you. -
coping difficulty
Nothing great comes into being all at once.
envy antagonist fortunate
Envy is the antagonist of the fortunate.
anchors ships should
A ship should not be held by a single anchor; neither should life depend upon a single hope.
knives freedom-of-speech blunt
We should not have either a blunt knife or a freedom of speech which is ill-managed.
effectiveness understanding fundamentals
Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.
merit triumph concerned
Don't be concerned who is watching you. The triumphs and merits of others belong to them - as do yours to you. Make the most of what you've got.
ruins recovering
Ruin and recovering are both from within.
events opinion habit
Be careful whom you associate with. It is human to imitate the habits of those with whom we interact. We inadvertently adopt their interests, their opinions, their values, and their habit of interpreting events.
swans nightingales
Were I a nightingale, I would act the part of a nightingale; were I a swan, the part of a swan.
sorrow wish doe
The origin of sorrow is this: to wish for something that does not come to pass.
unendurable irrational rational
To the rational being only the irrational is unendurable, but the rational is endurable.
self-improvement improvement
God has entrusted me with myself.