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Epictetus Quotes

Philosopher

Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher and former slave, taught that true freedom comes from mastering one’s thoughts and responses. His quotes emphasize self-discipline, resilience, and the importance of focusing on what lies within our control. Together, they offer practical, timeless guidance for living with clarity, strength, and inner peace.
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The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.
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Only the educated are free.
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The condition and characteristic of an uninstructed person is this: he never expects from himself profit (advantage) nor harm, but from externals. The condition and characteristic of a philosopher is this: he expects all advantage and all harm from himself.
From Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses
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Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
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If you want to make progress, put up with being perceived as ignorant or naive in worldly matters, don't aspire to a reputation for sagacity. If you do impress others as somebody, don't altogether believe it. You have to realize, it isn't easy to keep your will in agreement with nature, as well as externals. Caring about the one inevitably means you are going to shortchange the other.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
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When any person harms you, or speaks badly of you, remember that he acts or speaks from a supposition of its being his duty. Now, it is not possible that he should follow what appears right to you, but what appears so to himself. Therefore, if he judges from a wrong appearance, he is the person hurt, since he too is the person deceived. For if anyone should suppose a true proposition to be false, the proposition is not hurt, but he who is deceived about it. Setting out, then, from these principles, you will meekly bear a person who reviles you, for you will say upon every occasion, "It seemed so to him."
....
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As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.
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There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power or our will.
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The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
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Most of what passes for legitimate entertainment is inferior or foolish and only caters to or exploits people's weaknesses. Avoid being one of the mob who indulges in such pastimes. Your life is too short and you have important things to do. Be discriminating about what images and ideas you permit into your mind. If you yourself don't choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest. It is the easiest thing in the world to slide imperceptibly into vulgarity. But there's no need for that to happen if you determine not to waste your time and attention on mindless pap.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
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Remember to act always as if you were at a symposium. When the food or drink comes around, reach out and take some politely; if it passes you by don't try pulling it back. And if it has not reached you yet, don't let your desire run ahead of you, be patient until your turn comes. Adopt a similar attitude with regard to children, wife, wealth and status, and in time, you will be entitled to dine with the gods. Go further and decline these goods even when they are on offer and you will have a share in the gods' power as well as their company. That is how Diogenes, Heraclitus and philosophers like them came to be called, and considered, divine.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
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God save me from fools with a little philosophy—no one is more difficult to reach.
From The Discourses
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The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Only the educated are free.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The condition and characteristic of an uninstructed person is this: he never expects from himself profit (advantage) nor harm, but from externals. The condition and characteristic of a philosopher is this: he expects all advantage and all harm from himself.
From Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If you want to make progress, put up with being perceived as ignorant or naive in worldly matters, don't aspire to a reputation for sagacity. If you do impress others as somebody, don't altogether believe it. You have to realize, it isn't easy to keep your will in agreement with nature, as well as externals. Caring about the one inevitably means you are going to shortchange the other.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
When any person harms you, or speaks badly of you, remember that he acts or speaks from a supposition of its being his duty. Now, it is not possible that he should follow what appears right to you, but what appears so to himself. Therefore, if he judges from a wrong appearance, he is the person hurt, since he too is the person deceived. For if anyone should suppose a true proposition to be false, the proposition is not hurt, but he who is deceived about it. Setting out, then, from these principles, you will meekly bear a person who reviles you, for you will say upon every occasion, "It seemed so to him."
....
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power or our will.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Most of what passes for legitimate entertainment is inferior or foolish and only caters to or exploits people's weaknesses. Avoid being one of the mob who indulges in such pastimes. Your life is too short and you have important things to do. Be discriminating about what images and ideas you permit into your mind. If you yourself don't choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest. It is the easiest thing in the world to slide imperceptibly into vulgarity. But there's no need for that to happen if you determine not to waste your time and attention on mindless pap.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Remember to act always as if you were at a symposium. When the food or drink comes around, reach out and take some politely; if it passes you by don't try pulling it back. And if it has not reached you yet, don't let your desire run ahead of you, be patient until your turn comes. Adopt a similar attitude with regard to children, wife, wealth and status, and in time, you will be entitled to dine with the gods. Go further and decline these goods even when they are on offer and you will have a share in the gods' power as well as their company. That is how Diogenes, Heraclitus and philosophers like them came to be called, and considered, divine.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
God save me from fools with a little philosophy—no one is more difficult to reach.
From The Discourses
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Only the educated are free.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The condition and characteristic of an uninstructed person is this: he never expects from himself profit (advantage) nor harm, but from externals. The condition and characteristic of a philosopher is this: he expects all advantage and all harm from himself.
From Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If you want to make progress, put up with being perceived as ignorant or naive in worldly matters, don't aspire to a reputation for sagacity. If you do impress others as somebody, don't altogether believe it. You have to realize, it isn't easy to keep your will in agreement with nature, as well as externals. Caring about the one inevitably means you are going to shortchange the other.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
When any person harms you, or speaks badly of you, remember that he acts or speaks from a supposition of its being his duty. Now, it is not possible that he should follow what appears right to you, but what appears so to himself. Therefore, if he judges from a wrong appearance, he is the person hurt, since he too is the person deceived. For if anyone should suppose a true proposition to be false, the proposition is not hurt, but he who is deceived about it. Setting out, then, from these principles, you will meekly bear a person who reviles you, for you will say upon every occasion, "It seemed so to him."
....
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power or our will.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Most of what passes for legitimate entertainment is inferior or foolish and only caters to or exploits people's weaknesses. Avoid being one of the mob who indulges in such pastimes. Your life is too short and you have important things to do. Be discriminating about what images and ideas you permit into your mind. If you yourself don't choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest. It is the easiest thing in the world to slide imperceptibly into vulgarity. But there's no need for that to happen if you determine not to waste your time and attention on mindless pap.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Remember to act always as if you were at a symposium. When the food or drink comes around, reach out and take some politely; if it passes you by don't try pulling it back. And if it has not reached you yet, don't let your desire run ahead of you, be patient until your turn comes. Adopt a similar attitude with regard to children, wife, wealth and status, and in time, you will be entitled to dine with the gods. Go further and decline these goods even when they are on offer and you will have a share in the gods' power as well as their company. That is how Diogenes, Heraclitus and philosophers like them came to be called, and considered, divine.
From The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
God save me from fools with a little philosophy—no one is more difficult to reach.
From The Discourses
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
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