First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.
– Epictetus
Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.
– Epictetus
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
– Epictetus
All religions must be tolerated... for every man must get to heaven in his own way.
– Epictetus
Appearances to the mind are of four kinds. Things either are what they appear to be; or they neither are, nor appear to be; or they are, and do not appear to be; or they are not, and yet appear to be. Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man's task.
– 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
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
For it is not death or hardship that is a fearful thing, but the fear of death and hardship.
– Epictetus
Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire.
– Epictetus
Freedom is the right to live as we wish.
– Epictetus
God has entrusted me with myself.
– Epictetus
He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.
– 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
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
If you wish to be a writer, write.
– Epictetus
Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.
– Epictetus
It is not death or pain that is to be dreaded, but the fear of pain or death.
– Epictetus
It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.
– Epictetus
It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it.
– Epictetus
It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
– Epictetus
Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.
– Epictetus
No great thing is created suddenly.
– Epictetus
No man is free who is not master of himself.
– 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
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
One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent.
– Epictetus
Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.
– 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
The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
– Epictetus
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
The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.
– Epictetus
There is nothing good or evil save in the will.
– 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
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
Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed.
– Epictetus
We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
– Epictetus
What will the world be quite overturned when you die?
– 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
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
Remember that you are an actor in a play and the playwright chooses the manner of it...your business is to act the character that is given you and act it well; the choice of the cast is another's…
– Epictetus
Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.
– Epictetus
Control thy passions, lest they take vengeance on thee.
– Epictetus
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
– Epictetus
If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase.
– Epictetus
If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself: 'I used to be angry every day; then every other day; now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods.
– Epictetus
Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.
– Epictetus
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.
– Epictetus
Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you, and be silent.
– Epictetus
The good or ill of a man lies within his own will.
– Epictetus
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
When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing?
– Epictetus
We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope.
– Epictetus
We are not to give credit to the many, who say that none ought to be educated but the free but rather to the philosophers, who say that the well-educated alone are free.
– Epictetus
The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.
– Epictetus
If you seek truth you will not seek victory by dishonorable means, and if you find truth you will become invincible.
