Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher who lived in the first and second centuries CE. He was born a slave in Hierapolis, a city in Asia Minor, but gained his freedom as a young man. He is best known for his teachings on Stoic philosophy, which focus on the power of the individual to take control of their own lives and be content with their lot in life. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Epictetus on life, control, death.
There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.
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 impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.
I have to die. If it is now, well then I die now; if later, then now I will take my lunch, since the hour for lunch has arrived - and dying I will tend to later.
Don't be concerned with other people's impressions of you. They are dazzled and deluded by appearances. Stick with your purpose. This alone will strengthen your will and give your life coherence.
He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.
People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.
Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.
Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly.
No great thing is created suddenly.
Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.
Epictetus Quotes About Life
Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope. — Epictetus
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. — Epictetus
Freedom and happiness are won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control. — Epictetus
As you think, so you become.....Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and interpreting signs that aren't there. — Epictetus
We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope. — Epictetus
In trying to please other people, we find ourselves misdirected toward what lies outside our sphere of influence. In doing so, we lose our hold on our lifes purpose. — Epictetus
Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control. Stop aspiring to be anyone other than your own best self: for that does fall within your control. — Epictetus
When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it; you can either accept it or resent it. — Epictetus
What is a good person? One who achieves tranquillity by having formed the habit of asking on every occasion, "what is the right thing to do now?" — Epictetus
Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About Control
Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire. — Epictetus
We can't control the impressions others form about us, and the effort to do so only debases our character. — Epictetus
Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power. — Epictetus
Nothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds you back. For your own will is always within your control. — Epictetus
Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions. — Epictetus
Don’t consent to be hurt and you won’t be hurt – this is a choice over which you have control — Epictetus
Authentic happiness is always independent of external conditions. Vigilantly practice polite indifference to that which we can't control. Your happiness can only be found within. — Epictetus
Control thy passions lest they take vengence on thee. — Epictetus
All unhappiness arises from attempts to control events and other people, over which one has no power. — Epictetus
If you think you control things that are in the control of others, you will lament. You will be disturbed and you will blame both gods and men. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About Death
For it is not death or hardship that is a fearful thing, but the fear of death and hardship. — Epictetus
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
It is not death or pain that is to be dreaded, but the fear of pain or death. — Epictetus
In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action, but our inward opinions and principles. — Epictetus
What is death? A scary mask. Take it off-see, it doesn't bite. — Epictetus
Let death be daily before your eyes, and you will never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything. — Epictetus
Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible be daily before your eyes, but chiefly death, and you win never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything. — Epictetus
Why, do you not know, then, that the origin of all human evils, and of baseness, and cowardice, is not death, but rather the fear of death? — Epictetus
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
If you have anything better to be doing when death overtakes you, get to work on that. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About Happiness
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. — Epictetus
Authentic happiness is always independent of external conditions. — Epictetus
Happiness and personal fulfillment are the natural consequences of doing the right thing. — Epictetus
The people have a right to the truth as they have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. — Epictetus
Happiness is an equivalent for all troublesome things. — Epictetus
Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy, though he be master of the world. — Epictetus
If anyone is unhappy, remember that his unhappiness is his own fault... Nothing else is the cause of anxiety or loss of tranquility except our own opinion. — Epictetus
The pleasure which we most rarely experience gives us greatest delight. — Epictetus
There is but one way to tranquility of mind and happiness, and that is to account no external things thine own, but to commit all to God. — Epictetus
Living a good life leads to enduring happiness. Goodness in and of itself is the practice AND the reward. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About Freedom
Freedom is the right to live as we wish. — Epictetus
No man is free who is not a master of himself. — Epictetus
The foolish and the uneducated have little use for freedom. Only the educated are free. — Epictetus
Freedom is secured not by the fulfillment of one's desires, but by the removal of desire. — Epictetus
Fight against yourself, recover yourself to decency, to modesty, to freedom. And, in the first place, condemn your actions; but when you have condemned them, do not despair of yourself. For both ruin and recovery are from within. — Epictetus
Freedom isn't the right or ability to do whatever you please. Freedom comes from understanding the limits of our own power and the inherent limits set in place by nature. By accepting life's limits and inevitabilities and working with them rather than fighting them, you become truly free. — Epictetus
Truth is a thing immortal and perpetual, and it gives to us a beauty that fades not away in time, nor does it take away the freedom of speech which proceeds from justice; but it gives to us the knowledge of what is just and lawful, separating from them the unjust and refuting them. — Epictetus
We should not have either a blunt knife or a freedom of speech which is ill-managed. — Epictetus
Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else. — Epictetus
What is it that every man seeks? To be secure, to be happy, to do what he pleases without restraint and without compulsion. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About Love
The universe is but one great city, full of beloved ones, divine and human, by nature endeared to each other. — Epictetus
Never depend on the admiration of others for self-satisfaction. It is a fact of life that other people, even people who love you, will not necessarily agree with your ideas, understand you always, or share your enthusiasms. — Epictetus
A man that seeks truth and loves it must be reckoned precious to any human society. — Epictetus
Let no man think that he is loved by any who loveth none. — Epictetus
It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it. — Epictetus
Even as the Sun doth not wait for prayers and incantations to rise, but shines forth and is welcomed by all: so thou also wait not for clapping of hands and shouts and praise to do thy duty; nay, do good of thine own accord, and thou wilt be loved like the Sun. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About Education
Only the educated are free. — 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
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
It is the part of an uneducated person to blame others where he himself fares ill; to blame himself is the part of one whose education has begun; to blame neither another nor his own self is the part of one whose education is already complete. — Epictetus
To be getting an education means this: to be learning what is your own, and what is not your own. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About Wisdom
A wise man is he who does not grieve for the thing which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. — Epictetus
Difficulty shows what men are. Therefore when a difficulty falls upon you, remember that God, like a trainer of wrestlers, has matched you with a rough young man. Why? So that you may become an Olympic conqueror; but it is not accomplished without sweat. — Epictetus
Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can. — Epictetus
Common and vulgar people ascribe all ills that they feel to others; people of little wisdom ascribe to themselves; people of much wisdom, to no one. — Epictetus
We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us. — Epictetus
It is impossible that happiness, and yearning for what is not present, should ever be united. — Epictetus
From now on practice saying to everything that appears unpleasant: You are merely an appearance and NOT what you appear to be. — Epictetus
These are the signs of a wise man: to reprove nobody, to praise nobody, to blame nobody, nor even to speak of himself or his own merits. — Epictetus
Wisdom means understanding without any doubt that circumstances do not rise to meet our expectations. Events happen as they may. People behave as they will. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About Desire
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. — Epictetus
One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent. — Epictetus
He is free who lives as he wishes to live; who is neither subject to compulsion nor to hindrance, nor to force; whose movements to action are not impeded, whose desires attain their purpose, and who does not fall into that which he would avoid. — 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
If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked. — Epictetus
Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, and desires and the demons that distract us from these goals. Outside of our control are such things as what kind of body we have, whether or not we are born into wealth, and how we are regarded by others. — Epictetus
Learn to distinguish what you can and can't control. Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, desires and the things that repel us. They are directly subject to our influence. — Epictetus
The flourishing life cannot be achieved until we moderate our desires and see how superficial and fleeting they are. — Epictetus
Desire and happiness cannot live together. — Epictetus
To get or not to get what we desire can be equally disappointing. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About World
Liars are the cause of all the sins and crimes in the world. — Epictetus
What will the world be quite overturned when you die? — Epictetus
The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going. — Epictetus
There is only one thing for which God has sent me into the world, and that is to develop every kind of virtue or strength, and there is nothing in all the world that I cannot use for this purpose. — Epictetus
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 concerns. — Epictetus
Getting distracted by trifles is the easiest thing in the world… Focus on your main duty — Epictetus
God has entrusted me with myself. No man is free who is not master of himself. A man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going. — Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes About Sign
It is the sign of a dull mind to dwell upon the cares of the body, to prolong exercise, eating and drinking, and other bodily functions. These things are best done by the way; all your attention must be given to the mind. — Epictetus
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
Forgiveness is better than revenge, for forgiveness is the sign of a gentle nature, but revenge is the sign of a savage nature. — Epictetus
Forgiveness is better than revenge, for forgiveness is the sign of a gentle nature, but revenge is the sign of a savage nature. the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. — Epictetus
Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible. — Epictetus
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak. — Epictetus
It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows. — Epictetus
If someone speaks badly of you, do not defend yourself against the accusations, but reply; "you obviously don't know about my other vices, otherwise you would have mentioned these as well — Epictetus
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. — Epictetus
We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope. — Epictetus
What matters most is what sort of person you are becoming. Wise individuals care only about whom they are today and who they can be tomorrow. — Epictetus
It is difficulties that show what men are. For the future, in case of any difficulty, remember that God, like a gymnastic trainer, has pitted you against a rough antagonist. For what end? That you may be an Olympic conqueror; and this cannot be without toil. — Epictetus
People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them. — Epictetus
It's so simple really: If you say you're going to do something, do it. If you start something, finish it. — 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
Only the educated are free. — Epictetus
Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly. — Epictetus
Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly. — 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 judgements, and purification consists in producing in it right judgements, and the pure soul is one which has right judgements, for this alone is proof against confusion and pollution in its functions. — Epictetus
When we blather about trivial things, we ourselves become trivial, for our attention gets taken up with trivialities. You become what you give your attention to. — Epictetus
Renew every day your conversation with God: Do this even in preference to eating. Think more often of God than you breathe. — Epictetus
Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants. — Epictetus
Difficulties are things that show a person what they are. — Epictetus
When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it. It is not the things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance. Things and people are not what we wish them to be nor are they what they seem to be. They are what they are. — Epictetus
Nothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds you back. For your own will is always within your control. Sickness may challenge your body. But are you merely your body? Lameness may impede your legs. But you are not merely your legs. Your will is bigger than your legs. Your will needn't be affected by an incident unless you let it. — Epictetus
If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid. — Epictetus
An ignorant person is inclined to blame others for his own misfortune. To blame oneself is proof of progress. But the wise man never has to blame another or himself. — Epictetus
Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen. — Epictetus
Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily. — Epictetus
If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say: 'He obviously does not know me very well, since there are so many other faults he could have mentioned.' — Epictetus
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain. — Epictetus
We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout. — Epictetus
It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting. — Epictetus
A ship should not be held by a single anchor; neither should life depend upon a single hope. — Epictetus
Other people's views and troubles can be contagious. Don't sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others. — Epictetus
We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them. — Epictetus
You are a little soul carrying around a corpse. — Epictetus
Let silence be your general rule; or say only what is necessary and in few words. — Epictetus
It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them. — Epictetus
It is not a demonstration of kindness or friendship to the people we care about to join them in indulging in wrongheaded, negative feelings. We do a better service to ourselves and others by remaining detached and avoiding melodramatic reactions. — Epictetus
The good or ill of a man lies within his own will. — Epictetus
Some things are up to us [eph' hêmin] and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions–in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing. — Epictetus
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. — Epictetus
Ruin and recovering are both from within. — Epictetus
Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress. — Epictetus
Unremarkable lives are marked by the fear of not looking capable when trying something new. — Epictetus
Wish that everything should come about just as it does. — Epictetus
If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval, realize that you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own. — Epictetus
If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother. — Epictetus
We tell lies, yet it is easy to show that lying is immoral. — Epictetus
A soul that makes virtue its companion is like an over-flowing well, for it is clean and pellucid, sweet and wholesome, open to all, rich, blameless and indestructible. — Epictetus
We all dread a bodily paralysis, and would make use of every contrivance to avoid it; but none of us is troubled about a paralysis of the soul. — Epictetus
Don't regard what anyone says of you, for this, after all, is no concern of yours. — Epictetus
A half-hearted spirit has no power. Tentative efforts lead to tentative outcomes. Average people enter into their endeavors headlong and without care. — Epictetus
Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater. — Epictetus
The best place to get help is from yourself. — Epictetus
Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public. — Epictetus
Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you and be silent. — Epictetus
When we act pugnaciously, and injuriously, and angrily, and rudely, to what level have we degenerated? To the level of the wild beasts. Well, the fact is that some of us are wild beasts of a larger size, while others are little animals, malignant and petty. — Epictetus
Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him. — Epictetus
When we name things correctly, we comprehend them correctly, without adding information or judgements that aren't there. Does someone bathe quickly? Don't say be bathes poorly, but quickly. Name the situation as it is, don't filter it through your judgments. Give your assent only to that which is actually true. — Epictetus
He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk. — Epictetus
Watch yourself as you go about your daily business and later reflect on what you saw, trying to identify the sources of distress in your life and thinking about how to avoid that distress. — Epictetus
A vulgar man, in any ill that happens to him, blames others; a novice in philosophy blames himself; and a philosopher blames neither, the one nor the other. — Epictetus
At every occasion in your life, do not forget to commune with
yourself and ask of yourself how you can profit by it. — Epictetus
By accepting life's limits and inevitabilities and working with them rather than fighting them, we become free. — Epictetus
Life Lessons by Epictetus
Epictetus taught that we should strive to live a life of virtue and integrity, and to accept what we cannot control.
He believed that we should focus on our own actions and decisions, rather than worrying about the opinions of others.
He also believed that we should strive to be content with what we have and to appreciate the simple things in life.
Citation
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