Epictetus

What really frightens and dismays us is not the external events themselves, but the way in which we think about them. It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance.

Consider what the trainers of boys do. Has a boy fallen? ‘Rise,’ they say, ‘and wrestle again until you become strong.’ You should also do something like this. For you can be confident that nothing is more trainable than the human soul.

But what is it that I wish? To understand Nature and to follow it.

No great 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.

As a mark is not set up for the purpose of missing the aim, so neither does the nature of evil exist in the world.

No matter what happens, it is within my power to turn it to my advantage.

It is not things themselves that trouble people, but their opinions about things.

We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens.

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

Seek not good from without: seek it within yourselves, or you will never find it.

If you ever find yourself looking for outside approval in order to curry favor, you can be sure that you have lost your way. Be satisfied, then, simply to be a philosopher, and if you want people to think of you that way as well, appear so to yourself, and that will be sufficient.

These reasons do not cohere: I am richer than you, therefore I am better than you; I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am better than you. On the contrary these rather cohere, I am richer than you, therefore my possessions are greater than yours: I am more eloquent than you, therefore my speech is superior to yours. But you are neither possession nor speech.

Philosophy does not promise to secure anything external for man ... the subject matter of the art of living is each person’s own life.

Whenever I see a person suffering from nervousness, I think, well, what can he expect? If he had not set his sights on things outside man’s control, his nervousness would end at once.

Remember that it is not he who reviles you or strikes you, who insults you, but it is your opinion about these things as being insulting. When then a man irritates you, you must know that it is your own opinion which has irritated you. Therefore especially try not to be carried away by the appearance. For if you once gain time and delay, you will more easily master yourself.

In short, I will show you that I have the strength—of a philosopher. ‘And what strength would that be?’ A will that never fails to get what it wants, a faculty of aversion that always avoids what it dislikes, proper impulse, careful purpose and disciplined assent. That’s the human specimen you should prepare yourselves to see.

It is not the things themselves that disturb people but their judgments about those things.

No great 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 that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.

What is philosophy? Doesn’t it mean preparing to meet whatever will come our way?

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.

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.

There is only one road to happiness—let this rule be at hand morning, noon, and night: stay detached from things that are not up to you.

We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.

When you get angry, you should know that you aren’t guilty of an isolated lapse, you’ve encouraged a trend and thrown fuel on the fire. ... It is inevitable that continuous behavior of any one kind is going to instill new habits and tendencies, while steadily confirming old ones.

When you have decided that a thing ought to be done and are doing it, never avoid being seen doing it, though the many shall form an unfavorable opinion about it. For if it is not right to do it, avoid doing the thing; but if it is right, why are you afraid of those who shall find fault wrongly?

Don’t ask things to happen as you would like them to, but wish them to happen as they actually do, and you will be all right.

Practice yourself, for heaven's sake, in little things; and thence proceed to greater.

Where does the good lie? ‘In the will.’ And evil? ‘Also in the will.’ And things neither good nor bad— ‘... lie in whatever is external to the will.’ Very good! But how many of you remember this outside class?

Of one thing, beware, O man: see what is the price at which you sell your will. If you do nothing else, do not sell your will cheap.

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

Remember, you are an actor in a drama of such sort as the Author chooses—if short, then in a short one; if long, then in a long one. If it be his pleasure that you should enact a poor man, or a cripple, or a ruler, see that you act it well. For this is your business—to act well the given part, but to choose it belongs to Another.

What does Socrates say? ‘Just as one person delights in improving his farm, and another his horse, so I delight in attending to my own improvement day by day.’

Who are these people whose admiration you seek? Aren’t they the ones you are used to describing as mad? Well, then, is that what you want—to be admired by lunatics?

Most of us would be seized with fear if our bodies went numb, and would do everything possible to avoid it, yet we take no interest at all in the numbing of our souls.

Immediately prescribe some character and some form to yourself, which you shall observe both when you are alone and when you meet with men.

Shall I show you the sinews of a philosopher? 'What sinews are those?' -- A will undisappointed; evils avoided; powers daily exercised; careful resolutions; unerring decisions.

What else is freedom but the power to live our life the way we want?

He is wise who doesn’t grieve for the things he doesn’t have, but rejoices for the things he does have.

Freedom is not achieved by satisfying desire, but by eliminating it. Assure yourself of this by expending as much effort on these new ambitions as you did on those illusive goals: work day and night to attain a liberated frame of mind.

‘Do you want me to endure... exile?’ Wherever I go, I will be fine, because I was already fine here—not on account of the place but as a result of my principles, and I am going to take them with me. No one can take them away from me; they are my only possessions, irremovable ones that are enough for me wherever I am and whatever I do.

Be not swept off your feet by the vividness of the impression, but say, 'Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what you are and what you represent. Let me try you.'

If you are told that someone is talking badly about you, don’t defend yourself against the story but reply: ‘Obviously he didn’t know my other faults, or he would have mentioned them as well.’

If you have taken a role beyond your capacity, you have demeaned yourself in it, and you have also passed up the role you could have filled credibly.

What does Socrates say? ‘One person likes tending to his farm, another to his horse; I like to daily monitor my self-improvement.

The struggle is great, the task divine—to gain mastery, freedom, happiness, and tranquility.

Bearing all this in mind, welcome present circumstances and accept the things whose time has arrived. Be happy when you find that doctrines you have learned and analyzed are being tested by real events.

Only the educated are free.

Your master is he who controls that on which you have set your heart or wish to avoid.

Two words should be taken to heart and obeyed when exerting ourselves for good and restraining ourselves from evil—words that will ensure a blameless and troubled life: persist and resist.

If you learn that someone is speaking ill of you, don’t try to defend yourself against the rumors; respond instead with, ‘Yes, and he doesn’t know the half of it, because he could have said more.

Only the educated are free.

This is my ambition: I aspire to make you proof against force, obstruction, and disappointment; free, content, and happy, with your attention fixed on God in every matter great and small.

It is better to starve to death in a calm and confident state of mind than to live anxiously amidst abundance.

If someone in the street were entrusted with your body, you would be furious. Yet you entrust your mind to anyone around who happens to insult you, and allow it to be troubled and confused. Aren’t you ashamed of that?

What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.