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
merit given concerned
You have been given your own work to do. Get to it right now, do your best at it, and don't be concerned with who is watching you. Create your own merit.
insulting firsts characteristics
It was the first and most striking characteristic of Socrates never to become heated in discourse, never to utter an injurious or insulting word -- on the contrary, he persistently bore insult from others and thus put an end to the fray.
essence evil certain
The essence of good and evil is a certain disposition of the will.
writing wish needs
If you can make music with someone you don't need words. If you wish to be a writer, write.
shapes reason disorder
Since it is Reason which shapes and regulates all other things, it ought not itself to be left in disorder.
mind down-and principles
If what charms you is nothing but abstract principles, sit down and turn them over quietly in your mind: but never dub yourself a Philosopher.
want slave be-a-slave
Whoever wants to be free, therefore, let him not want or avoid anything that is up to others. Otherwise he will necessarily be a slave.
power suffering trying
Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power.
wise wisdom men
These are the signs of a wise man: to reprove nobody, to praise nobody, to blame nobody, nor even to speak of himself or his own merits.
giving justice sentences
Do not give sentence in another tribunal till you have been yourself judged in the tribunal of Justice.
giving delight pleasure
Of pleasures, those which occur most rarely give the most delight.
running action habit
Every habit and faculty is preserved and increased by correspondent actions, as the habit of walking, by walking; of running, by running.
evident
Things true and evident must of necessity be recognized by those who would contradict them.
god thinking breathe
Think of God oftener than you breathe.