Epictetus Quotes

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

No man is free who is not master of himself.

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

Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.

God has entrusted me with myself.

It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.

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

Only the educated are free.

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

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

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.

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

You may be always victorious if you will never enter into any contest where the issue does not wholly depend upon yourself.

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

Control thy passions lest they take vengence on thee.

All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.

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

No great thing is created suddenly.

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

Freedom is the right to live as we wish.

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

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

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

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

He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.

Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.

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

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

Silence is safer than speech.

If you wish to be a writer, write.

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

There is nothing good or evil save in the will.

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