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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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All Men Ifs Life Philosophical Philosophy Wish Should Inspirational Persons Thinking Knows Happens Motivational Doe People Wells Giving Mind Opinion Remember

Famous Epictetus Quotes

“Whatever you would make habitual, practice it; and if you would not make a thing habitual, do not practice it, but accustom yourself to something else.”

Ifs Practice Habitual

Author:Epictetus

“Ask yourself: Does this appearance (of events) concern the things that are within my own control or those that are not? If it concerns anything outside your control, train yourself not to worry about it.”

Ifs Life Doe Asks My Own Worry Events Concern Train Appearance

Author:Epictetus

“No matter where you find yourself, comport yourself as if you were a distinguished person.”

Ifs Life Persons Matter Finding Yourself Distinguished

Author:Epictetus

“If you think you control things that are in the control of others, you will lament. You will be disturbed and you will blame both gods and men.”

Ifs Thinking Men Blame Disturbed Lament

Author:Epictetus

“If a person had delivered up your body to some passer-by, you would certainly be angry. And do you feel no shame in delivering up your own mind to any reviler, to be disconcerted and confounded?”

Ifs Feels Mind Persons Body Shame Angry Your Body Advertising Delivering

Book:The Enchiridion

Source: The Enchiridion

“You become what you give your attention to...If you yourself don't choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest.”

Ifs Giving May Attention Highest Motive

Author:Epictetus

“If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and if you shall seem to someone to be a person of importance, distrust yourself.”

Ifs Knows Persons Seems Wish Knowledge Importance Foolish Submit Self Knowledge Distrust Trust Yourself

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

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

Ifs Want Life Stupid Self Improvement Libertarian Foolish Silly Gentleman Thoughtful Foolishness Serendipity Inspiring Career

Book:The Handbook of Epictetus

Source: The Handbook of Epictetus

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

Ifs Love Lying Evil Laughing Criticism Hatred Philosophical Critics Being True True Friend Wise Man Once Said Correcting Greek Philosopher Defamation

Author:Epictetus

“If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother.”

Ifs Remember Brother Philosophical Thee My Brother Cheating Thank You Brother Sister

Author:Epictetus

“If you wish to be a writer, write.”

Ifs Writing Wish Philosophical

Author:Epictetus

“If you seek truth you will not seek victory by dishonorable means, and if you find truth you will become invincible.”

Ifs Mean Victory Invincible Dishonorable

Author:Epictetus

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

Ifs Pleasure Please Philosophical Bounds Libertarian Cease Moderation Greatest Pleasures

Author:Epictetus

“If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked.”

Ifs Believe Desire Philosophical Be Good Wicked

Author:Epictetus

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

Ifs May Doe Issues Depends Being Yourself Contests Steadfastness

Author:Epictetus

“If virtue promises happiness, prosperity and peace, then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us, progress is always an approach toward it.”

Ifs Virtue Progress Evolution Promise Approach Perfection Prosperity

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

“No greater 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.”

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

“You can be invincible, if you enter into no contest in which it is not in your power to conquer.”

Ifs Power Conquer Contests Invincible

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

“If we are not stupid or insincere when we say that the good or ill of man lies within his own will, and that all beside is nothing to us, why are we still troubled?”

Ifs Men Stills Lying Stupid Ill Not Stupid Lying Men Insincere

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

“Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us, no matter what we are doing?... what do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you?... If you have anything better to be doing when you are so overtaken, get to work on that.”

Ifs Knows Needs Matter Wish Disease No Matter What Do You Know Carpe Diem Carpe Disease And Death

Book:Epictetus: the Discourses as reported by Arrian, the Manual, and fragments

Source: Epictetus: the Discourses as reported by Arrian, the Manual, and fragments

“Remember that you are but an actor, acting whatever part the Master has ordained. It may be short or it may be long. If he wishes you to represent a poor man, do so heartily; if a cripple, or a magistrate, or a private man, in each case act your part with honor.”

Ifs Men May Long Remember Actors Wish Poor Acting Cases Masters Honor Wish You Poor Man Cripples Magistrates

Author:Epictetus

“If your heart is quite set upon a crown, make and put on one of roses, for it will make the prettier appearance.”

Ifs Heart Authority Rose Appearance Crowns

Book:The Works of Epictetus: Consisting of His Discourses, in Four Books, Preserved by Arrian ; The Enchiridion, and Fragments

Source: The Works of Epictetus: Consisting of His Discourses, in Four Books, Preserved by Arrian ; The Enchiridion, and Fragments

“Remember that 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, or a private citizen, see that you act it well. For this is your business, to act well the given part. But to choose it belongs to Another.”

Ifs Men Should Wells Long Remember Actors Given Pleasure Poor Citizens Drama Rulers Poor Man Cripples

Book:The Enchiridion

Source: The Enchiridion

“If you set your heart upon philosophy, you must straightway prepare yourself to be laughed at and mocked by many who will say Behold a philosopher arisen among us! or How came you by that brow of scorn? But do you cherish no scorn, but hold to those things which seem to you the best, as one set by God in that place. Remember too, that if you abide in those ways, those who first mocked you, the same shall afterwards reverence you; but if you yield to them, you will be laughed at twice as much as before.”

Ifs Way Firsts Heart Philosophy Seems Remember Philosopher Cherish Yield Laughed Reverence Scorn Brows

Author:Epictetus

“Opportunity beckons more surely when misfortune comes upon a person than it ever does when that person is riding the crest of a wave of success. It sharpens a person's wits, if that person will let it, enabling him or her to see more clearly and evaluate situations with a more knowledgeable judgment.”

Ifs Persons Doe Opportunity Situation Judgment Wave Wit Misfortunes Riding Evaluate Enabling Knowledgeable

Author:Epictetus