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Epictetus

Epictetus Quotes

Philosopher

Epictetus was a renowned Greek philosopher born in 55 AD and died in 135 AD. He founded the Stoic school of philosophy, emphasizing the importance of reason, morality, and self-control, which had a profound impact on subsequent philosophy.

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Famous Epictetus Quotes

“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.”

Men Philosophy Happens Blame Ill Philosopher Vulgar Calamity Novices

Author:Epictetus

“If you wish to live a life free from sorrow, think of what is going to happen as if it had already happened.”

Ifs Thinking Happens Wish Happened Sorrow

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

“Cowardice, the dread of what will happen.”

Happens Cowardice Dread Covetousness

Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius The Golden Sayings Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion

Source: Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius The Golden Sayings Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion

“It is my business, to manage carefully and dexterously whatever happens”

Happens Manage Whatever Happens

Book:The Works of Epictetus: Consisting of His Discourses, in Four Books, the Enchiridion, and Fragments

Source: The Works of Epictetus: Consisting of His Discourses, in Four Books, the Enchiridion, and Fragments

“And have you not received faculties which will enable you to bear all that happens to you? Have you not received greatness of spirit? Have you not received courage? Have you not received endurance?”

Happens Spirit Courage Greatness Bears Endurance Faculty

Book:Discourses (Books 1 and 2)

Source: Discourses (Books 1 and 2)

“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.”

People May Mean Happens Understanding Doubt Events Circumstances Expectations Behave

Author:Epictetus

“Embrace reality. Think about what delights you - the small luxuries on which you depend, the people whom you cherish most. But remember that they have their own distinct character, which is quite a separate matter from how we happen to regard them.”

People Thinking Matter Character Reality Happens Remember Depends Regard Embrace Delight Luxury Cherish

Author:Epictetus

“Events do not just happen, but arrive by appointment.”

Inspirational Happens Events Appointments

Author:Epictetus

“Caretake this moment. Immerse yourself in its particulars. Respond to this person, this challenge, this deed. Quit evasions. Stop giving yourself needless trouble. It is time to really live; to fully inhabit the situation you happen to be in now.”

Giving Persons Moments Happens Challenges Situation Trouble Deeds Quitting Evasion Giving Yourself

Author:Epictetus

“It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens." Epictetus”

Thinking Happens

Author:Epictetus

“Don't seek to have events happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do happen, and all will be well with you.”

Wells Happens Wish Events

Author:Epictetus

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

Inspirational Wisdom Happens Our Thoughts Disturbed

Author:Epictetus

“To Epictetus, all external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control, but we can accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. Individuals, however, are responsible for their own actions which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power. As part of the universal city that is the universe, human beings have a duty of care to all fellow humans. The person who followed these precepts would achieve happiness.”

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

Inspirational Matter Happens Turns Mistake Failure Advantage No Matter What Setback

Author:Epictetus

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

Men Inspirational Humor Happens Belief Attitude Opinion Perspective Perception Disturbed

Author:Epictetus

“Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.”

Life Inspirational Should Happens Wish Flow Contentment Tranquil

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

“Covetousness like jealousy, when it has taken root, never leaves a person, but with their life. Cowardice is the dread of what will happen.”

Persons Happens Taken Roots Coward Cowardice Dread Covetousness

Author:Epictetus

“Sickness is a hindrance to the body, but not to your ability to choose, unless that is your choice. Lameness is a hindrance to the leg, but not to your ability to choose. Say this to yourself with regard to everything that happens, then you will see such obstacles as hindrances to something else, but not to yourself.”

Body Happens Choices Ability Responsibility Difficulty Regard Obstacles Legs Sickness Coping Hindrance Ability To Choose

Book:The Handbook of Epictetus

Source: The Handbook of Epictetus

“When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it; you can either accept it or resent it.”

Life Happens Attitude Accepting Things Happen Resent

Book:The Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness

Source: The Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness

“Don't demand or expect that events happen as you would wish them do. Accept events as they actually happen. That way, peace is possible.”

Way Life Happens Wish Accepting Events Demand

Book:The Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness

Source: The Art of Living: The Classical Mannual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness

“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.”

People Seems Happens Wish Attitude Things Happen Significance Interpretation

Author:Epictetus

“I am always content with what happens; for I know that what God chooses is better than what I choose.”

Author:Epictetus

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

Matter Happens Happiness Attitude Positivity Inner Peace Moving Forward Moving On Thought Provoking Antiquity Reacting Greek Philosopher Lemonade Kids Inspirational

Author:Epictetus

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

Use Happens Motivational Responsibility Power Philosophical Stoic Greek Philosopher

Author:Epictetus