Epictetus Quotes

Epictetus, born into slavery around 50 A.D. eventually known as one of the most outstanding philosophers of all time. He was allowed to get an education as a young person, while enslaved. He eventually was awarded his freedom as a young man. 

He began teaching in the Roman Empire and became very influential in his own time, and even more so through our present time as a proponent of taking full responsibility for one’s own thoughts and actions. 

Epictetus was a proponent of one’s outer words and behavior matching one’s inner world matching in a consistent integrated way.

Although he did not write his own works, his words were captured by his student, Arrian, in a set of volumes called Discourses.

“He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.”

― Epictetus

“Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.”

― Epictetus

“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”

― Epictetus

“Circumstances don’t make the man, they only reveal him to himself.”

― Epictetus

“It takes more than just a good looking body. You’ve got to have the heart and soul to go with it.”

― Epictetus

“The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.”

― Epictetus

“People are not disturbed by things, but by the views they take of them.”

― Epictetus, Enchiridion

“Other people’s views and troubles can be contagious. Don’t sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others.”

― Epictetus

“Only the educated are free.”

― Epictetus

“Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.”

― Epictetus, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness

“You are a little soul carrying around a corpse”

― Epictetus

“Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.”

― Epictetus

“We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope.”

― Epictetus

“To accuse others for one’s own misfortune is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one’s education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one’s education is complete.”

― Epictetus

“I laugh at those who think they can damage me. They do not know who I am, they do not know what I think, they cannot even touch the things which are really mine and with which I live.

― Epictetus

“First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.”

― Epictetus

“No man is free who is not master of himself.”

― Epictetus

“Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.”

― Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of Epictetus

“The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.”

― Epictetus

“If you seek truth you will not seek victory by dishonorable means, and if you find truth you will become invincible”

― Epictetus

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”

― Epictetus, The Discourses

“Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do. Hold to your true aspirations no matter what is going on around you.”

― Epictetus

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

― Epictetus

“Seek not the good in external things; seek it in yourselves.”

― Epictetus

I”t’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”

― Epictetus

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

― Epictetus

“If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother.”

― Epictetus

“Only the educated are free.

― Epictetus

“People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.”

― Epictetus

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”

― Epictetus

“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.”

― Epictetus

“Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.”

― Epictetus

“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.”

― Epictetus

“It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.”

― Epictetus

“It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.”

― Epictetus

“Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.”

― Epictetus

“Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.”

― Epictetus

“All religions must be tolerated… for every man must get to heaven in his own way.”

― Epictetus

“If you wish to be a writer, write.”

― Epictetus

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

― Epictetus

“One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent.”

― Epictetus

“Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes, but wish for them as they are, and you will find them.”

― Epictetus

“All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.”

― Epictetus

“Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly.”

― Epictetus

“If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.”

― Epictetus

“If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked.”

― Epictetus

“Freedom is the right to live as we wish”

― Epictetus

“It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.”

― Epictetus

“Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes, but wish for them as they are, and you will find them.”

― Epictetus

“We tell lies, yet it is easy to show that lying is immoral.”

― Epictetus

“The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.”

― Epictetus

“Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire.” 

― Epictetus

“Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.”

― Epictetus

“Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.” 

― Epictetus

“When you are offended at any man’s fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.” 

― Epictetus

“If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.”

― Epictetus

“Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant.”

― Epictetus

“Control thy passions lest they take vengence on thee.”

― Epictetus

“No greater thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.” 

― Epictetus

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”

― Epictetus

“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”

― Epictetus

“The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests”

― Epictetus

“Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.”

― Epictetus

“Never in any case say I have lost such a thing, but I have returned it. Is your child dead? It is a return. Is your wife dead? It is a return. Are you deprived of your estate? Is not this also a return?”

― Epictetus

“To accuse others for one’s own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one’s education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one’s education is complete”

― Epictetus

“It is not death or pain that is to be dreaded, but the fear of pain or death.” 

― Epictetus

“If virtue promises happiness, prosperity and peace, then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us, progress is always an approach toward it. “

― Epictetus

“No great thing is created suddenly.”

― Epictetus

“God has entrusted me with myself.”

― Epictetus

“Practice yourself, for heaven’s sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.”

― Epictetus

“Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit.”

― Epictetus

“Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy, though he be master of the world.”

― Epictetus

“There is nothing good or evil save in the will.”

― Epictetus

““Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort.”

― Epictetus

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