Epictetus (50-138)

Quotes

• We have two ears and one mouth so we may listen more and talk the less.

• Tell me where I can escape death: discover for me the country, show me the men to whom I must go, whom death does not visit. Discover to me a charm against death. If I have not one, what do you wish me to do? I cannot escape from death, but shall I die lamenting and trembling? . . . Therefore if I am able to change externals according to my wish, I change them: but if I cannot, I am ready to tear the eyes out of him who hinders me.

• Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.

• Control thy passions, lest they take vengeance on thee.

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

• It is the action of an uninstructed person to reproach others for his own misfortune; of one entering instruction, to reproach himself; and one perfectly instructed, to reproach neither others nor himself.

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

• The good or ill of a man lies within his own will.

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

• If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself: 'I used to be angry every day; then every other day; now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods.

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

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

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

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

• When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing?

• If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase.

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

• 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.

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

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