To adorn our characters by the charm of an amiable nature shows at once a lover of beauty and a lover of man.
—Epictetus
Topics: Kindness
Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.
—Epictetus
Topics: Wishes
Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.
—Epictetus
Topics: Knowledge, Dress, Fashion
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
Topics: Patience, Resilience, Resolve, Growth, To Be Born Everyday, Work, Persistence, Perseverance, Creativity, Greatness & Great Things, Greatness, Wisdom, Endurance
It is no easy thing for a principle to become a man’s own unless each day he maintains it and works it out in his life.
—Epictetus
Topics: Value of Time, Time Management
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.
—Epictetus
Topics: Power
Lampis the ship owner, on being asked how he acquired his great wealth, replied, “My great wealth was acquired with no difficulty, but my small wealth, my first gains, with much labor.”
—Epictetus
Topics: Wealth
There is nothing good or evil save in the will.
—Epictetus
Topics: One liners, Will
You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.
—Epictetus
Topics: Living, Life, Man
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
Topics: Loss, Losers, Losing
It is the sign of a dull mind to dwell upon the cares of the body, to prolong exercise, eating and drinking, and other bodily functions. These things are best done by the way; all your attention must be given to the mind.
—Epictetus
Topics: Mind, Eating, The Mind
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
Be not diverted from your duty by any idle reflections the silly world may make upon you, for their censures are not in your power and should not be at all your concern.
—Epictetus
Topics: Duty
It is difficulties that show what men are.
—Epictetus
Topics: One liners, Difficulty, Men
If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.
—Epictetus
Topics: Critics, Criticism
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
—Epictetus
Topics: Money, Philosophy, Success, Self-reliance, Happiness, Confidence
Be not swept off your feet by the vividness of the impression, but say, “Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what you are and what you represent. Let me try you”.
—Epictetus
Topics: Patience, Wisdom
A ship ought not to be held by one anchor, nor life by a single hope.
—Epictetus
One that desires to excel should endeavor it in those things that are in themselves most excellent.
—Epictetus
Topics: Perfection, Excellence
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
—Epictetus
Topics: Wisdom, Satisfaction, Appreciation, Virtues, Gratitude, Blessings
A man that seeks truth and loves it must be reckoned precious to any human society.
—Epictetus
Topics: Truth
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
I am always content with what happens; for I know that what God chooses is better than what I choose.
—Epictetus
Topics: Contentment
To a longer and worse life, a shorter and better is by all means to be preferred.
—Epictetus
Topics: Aging
Who is not attracted by bright and pleasant children, to prattle, to creep, and to play with them?
—Epictetus
Topics: Children
God hath entrusted me with myself.
—Epictetus
Topics: Responsibility, Self-reliance, Religion, God
In the schools of the wrestling master, when a boy falls he is bidden to get up again, and to go on wrestling day by day till he has acquired strength; and we must do the same, and not after one failure suffer ourselves to be swept along as by a torrent. You need but will, and it is done; but if you relax your efforts you will be ruined; for ruin and recovery are both from within.
—Epictetus
Topics: Self-reliance, Confidence, Will
A ship should not ride on a single anchor, nor life on a single hope.
—Epictetus
Topics: Living, Life
We are not troubled by things, but by the opinion which we have of things.
—Epictetus
He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.
—Epictetus
Topics: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drunkenness
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Plutarch Greek Biographer
- Heraclitus Ancient Greek Philosopher
- Aristotle Ancient Greek Philosopher
- Xenocrates Greek Philosopher, Scientist
- Plato Ancient Greek Philosopher
- Epicurus Greek Philosopher
- Bias of Priene Greek Orator
- Plotinus Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mystic
- Euripides Ancient Greek Dramatist
- Homer Ancient Greek Poet
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