Appreciating Epictetus

Born into slavery. Sold as a child. Constantly whipped by a vicious master...

Out of this came a diamond mind that greatly influenced generations upon generations.
The following quotes are taken from "The Art Of Living" which is a collection of wise sayings by this extraordinary philosopher:



All religions must be tolerated... for everyone must get to heaven in his/her own way.

Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.

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

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

For it is not death or hardship that is a fearful thing, but the fear of death and hardship.

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

Freedom is the right to live as we wish.

God has entrusted me with myself.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.

No great thing is created suddenly.
Epictetus

No man is free who is not master of himself.
Epictetus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.

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