Epictetus Quotes

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

"No great thing is created suddenly."

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

"Only the educated are free."

"Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things."

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

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

"Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems."

"If you wish to be a writer, write."

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

"When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own faults."

"Everything has two handles, one by which it may be borne and the other by which it may not."

"Is it possible that what is not in our power to be either good or evil?"

"Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you, and be silent."

"People are not disturbed by things, but by the views which they take of them."

"If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses, but answer: 'He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.'"

"It is better to die of hunger, having lived without grief and fear, than to live with a troubled spirit amid abundance."

"It is the act of an ill-instructed man to blame others; of one whose instruction has begun, to blame himself; of one whose instruction is completed, to blame neither another nor himself."

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

"Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours."

"Difficulties are things that show what men are."

"Control your passions lest they take vengeance on thee."

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

"Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness."

"Any person capable of angering you becomes your master."

"A ship should not ride on a single anchor, nor life on a single hope."

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

"Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do."

"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."

"To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education."

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

"Carefully leave the things which are not in your power."

"If someone speaks badly of you, do not defend yourself against the accusations, but reply; 'He surely doesn't know my other faults, or he would have mentioned these too.'"