Epictetus

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher. The name given by his parents, if one was given, is not known -the word epiktetos in Greek simply means "acquired."
Found 57 thoughts of Epictetus

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

Epictetus

No man is free who is not master of himself.

Epictetus

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

Epictetus

We must not believe the many, who say that only free people ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that only the educated are free

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

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

Epictetus

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

Epictetus

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

Epictetus

A child understands fear and the hurt and hate it brings.

Epictetus

No great thing is created suddenly.

Epictetus

Difficulties show men what they are. In case of any difficulty remember that God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil.

Epictetus

I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not know.

Epictetus

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

Epictetus

A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs...

Epictetus

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

Epictetus

Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy, though he be master of the world.

Epictetus

Nature has given men one tongue and two ears, that we may hear twice as much as we speak.

Epictetus

Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.

Epictetus

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

Epictetus

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

Epictetus

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

Epictetus

Only the educated are free.

Epictetus

A wise man is he who does not grieve for the thing which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

Epictetus

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

Epictetus

All philosophy lies in two words: Sustain and Abstain

Epictetus
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