Epictētus (c.55 CE–c.135 CE) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was the most influential teacher of Stoicism of his time. He believed that one should concern oneself only with what one can control and suffer what one cannot influence.
Born a slave in Hierapolis, Asia Minor, Epictētus was lame from an early age, possibly from brutal treatment received while he was a slave. He is said to have endured his master’s physical abuse without complaint, treating his body merely as a garment.
Epictētus came to Rome early in life and studied under the Stoic philosopher Gaius Musonius Rufus. Epictētus was freed after Emperor Nero’s death. Like other philosophers who were critical of the tyranny of Emperor Domitian, Epictētus, got expelled from Rome around 89 CE.
Epictētus settled in Nicopolis in northwestern Greece. He was extremely popular, respected, and lived a life of the utmost simplicity, following Stoic doctrine. His reputation attracted people from all over the Roman world—disciples who came to hear him included Emperor Hadrian and a future historian by the name Flavius Arrian. Arrian became Epictētus’s pupil and recorded four books of his lectures as Discourses. Arrian also produced a synoptic version of Epictētus’s primary teaching called the Manual.
Epictētus’s philosophical and religious beliefs are a combination of Stoicism and Cynicism. They emphasize the universal unity of man, submissiveness, humility, and charity. They also assert the ability and duty of a person to mold his or her character in the effort to achieve self-control and independence of external circumstances.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Epictetus
The people have a right to the truth as they have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
—Epictetus
Topics: Truth
Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
—Epictetus
Topics: Belief, Attitude, Opinions, Perception, Opinion
Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling that desire.
—Epictetus
He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.
—Epictetus
Topics: Drunkenness, Alcoholism, Alcohol
Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.
—Epictetus
Topics: Fashion, Dress, Knowledge
It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
—Epictetus
Topics: Attitude
And have you not received faculties which will enable you to bear all that happens to you? Have you not received greatness of spirit? Have you not received courage? Have you not received endurance?
—Epictetus
Topics: Courage
Ask not that events should happen as you will, but let your will be that events should happen as they do, and you shall have peace.
—Epictetus
Topics: Acceptance
Liars are the cause of all the sins and crimes in the world.
—Epictetus
Topics: Deception/Lying, Lies, Lying
So when the crisis is upon you, remember that God, like a trainer of wrestlers, has matched you with a tough and stalwart antagonist-that you may prove a victor at the Great Games. Yet without toil or sweat this may not be.
—Epictetus
Topics: Religion
In theory it is easy to convince an ignorant person; in actual life, men not only object to offer themselves to be convinced, but hate the man who has convinced them.
—Epictetus
Let death be daily before your eyes, and you will never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.
—Epictetus
Topics: Dying, Death
If you would be good, first believe you are bad.
—Epictetus
Topics: Repentance
A ship should not ride on a single anchor, nor life on a single hope.
—Epictetus
Topics: Life, Living
No man is free who is not master of himself.
—Epictetus
Topics: Self-Discovery, Discipline, Self-Control, Freedom
He who exercises wisdom exercises the knowledge which is about God.
—Epictetus
Topics: Wisdom
Confident because of our caution
—Epictetus
Topics: Confidence
You can be happy if you know this secret: Some things are within your power to control and some things are not.
—Epictetus
Topics: Joy
If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase. At first, keep quiet and count the days when you were not angry: I used to be angry every day, then every other day: next, every two, then every three days! and if you succeed in passing thirty days, sacrifice to the gods in thanksgiving.
—Epictetus
Topics: Anger
A man that seeks truth and loves it must be reckoned precious to any human society.
—Epictetus
Topics: Truth
What will the world be quite overturned when you die?
—Epictetus
Topics: Ego, Egotism
We do not choose our own parts in life, and have nothing to do with those parts. Our duty is confined to playing them well.
—Epictetus
Topics: Life
What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.
—Epictetus
Topics: Wisdom, Philosophy, Creativity, Business, Knowledge, Learning
The soul’s impurity consists in bad judgments, and purification consists in producing in it right judgments, and the pure soul is one which has right judgments.
—Epictetus
Topics: Soul
Circumstances don’t make the man, they only reveal him to himself.
—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
Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit.
—Epictetus
Topics: Anger
One that desires to excel should endeavor it in those things that are in themselves most excellent.
—Epictetus
Topics: Excellence, Perfection
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.
—Epictetus
Topics: Power
If any one speak ill of thee, consider whether he hath truth on his side; and if so, reform thyself, that his censures may not affect thee.
—Epictetus
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