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
Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.
—Epictetus
Topics: Freedom
It is our attitude toward events, not events themselves, which we can control. Nothing is by its own nature calamitous-even death is terrible only if we fear it.
—Epictetus
Topics: Fear
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak..
—Epictetus
Topics: Communication, Meaning, Speakers, Speaking
In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; in adversity, nothing is so difficult.
—Epictetus
Topics: Friendship
As in walking it is your great care not to run your foot upon a nail, or to tread awry, and strain your leg; so let it be in all the affairs of human life, not to hurt your mind or offend your judgment. And this rule, if observed carefully in all your deportment, will be a mighty security to you in your undertakings.
—Epictetus
Topics: Judgment
Try to enjoy the great festival of life with other men.
—Epictetus
Topics: Life
He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.
—Epictetus
Topics: Drunkenness, Alcoholism, Alcohol
I have a lantern. You steal my lantern. What, then, is your honor worth no more to you than the price of my lantern.
—Epictetus
Topics: Honor
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: Business, Creativity, Knowledge, Philosophy, Learning, Wisdom
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
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, Confidence, Self-reliance, Happiness, Success, Philosophy
A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but yet appears to be; or it is, but does not appear to be; or it is not, and does not appear to be.
—Epictetus
Topics: Realism
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.
—Epictetus
Topics: Power
It is a sign of a dull nature to occupy oneself deeply in matters that concern the body; for instance, to be over much occupied about exercise, about eating and drinking, about easing oneself, about sexual intercourse.
—Epictetus
Topics: Mankind, Body, Man
On the occasion of every accident that befalls you, remember to turn to yourself and inquire what power you have for turning it to use.
—Epictetus
Topics: Misfortune
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
It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
—Epictetus
Topics: Attitude
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
—Epictetus
Topics: Philosophy
What ought one to say then as each hardship comes? “I was practicing for this, I was training for this.”
—Epictetus
Then what makes a beautiful human being? Isn’t it the presence of human excellence? Young friend, if you wish to be beautiful, then work diligently at human excellence. And what is that? Observe those whom you praise without prejudice. The just or the unjust? The just. The even-tempered or the undisciplined? The even-tempered. The self-controlled or the uncontrolled? The self-controlled. In making yourself that kind of person, you will become beautiful—but to the extent you ignore these qualities, you’ll be ugly, even if you use every trick in the book to appear beautiful.
—Epictetus
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
—Epictetus
Shall I show you the sinews of a philosopher? “What sinews are those?”—A will undisappointed; evils avoided; powers daily exercised; careful resolutions; unerring decisions.
—Epictetus
Topics: Wisdom, Power
Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us, no matter what we are doing? … What do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you? If you have anything better to be doing when you are so overtaken, get to work on that.
—Epictetus
Topics: Death, Value of Time, Appropriateness, Work, Dying, Time Management, Aptness
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
Topics: Adversity, Education
It is difficulties that show what men are.
—Epictetus
Topics: One liners, Men, Difficulty
Fortune is an evil chain to the body, and vice to the soul.
—Epictetus
Topics: Fortune
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
If you are told that such an one speaks ill of you, make no defense against what was said, but answer, “He surely knew not my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these only!”
—Epictetus
Topics: Gossip, Slander
As the touchstone which tries gold, but is not itself tried by gold, such is he who has the true standard of judgment.
—Epictetus
Topics: Judgment
Difficulties show men what they are. In case of any difficulty remember that God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil.
—Epictetus
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
So you wish to conquer in the Olympic Games, my friend? And I, too… But first mark the conditions and the consequences. You will have to put yourself under discipline; to eat by rule, to avoid cakes and sweetmeats; to take exercise at the appointed hour whether you like it or not, in cold and heat; to abstain from cold drinks and wine at your will. Then, in the conflict itself you are likely enough to dislocate your wrist or twist your ankle, to swallow a great deal of dust, to be severely thrashed, and after all of these things, to be defeated.
—Epictetus
Topics: Competition, Sports
Fortify yourself with moderation; for this is an impregnable fortress.
—Epictetus
Topics: Moderation
Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
—Epictetus
Topics: Opinion, Belief, Perception, Attitude, Opinions
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
What will the world be quite overturned when you die?
—Epictetus
Topics: Ego, Egotism
Your master is he who controls that on which you have set your heart or wish to avoid.
—Epictetus
Topics: Love
If you set your heart upon philosophy, you must straightway prepare yourself to be laughed at and mocked by many who will say Behold a philosopher arisen among us! or How came you by that brow of scorn? But do you cherish no scorn, but hold to those things which seem to you the best, as one set by God in that place. Remember too, that if you abide in those ways, those who first mocked you, the same shall afterwards reverence you; but if you yield to them, you will be laughed at twice as much as before.
—Epictetus
Topics: Philosophers, Philosophy
There is nothing good or evil save in the will.
—Epictetus
Topics: Will, One liners
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