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

“If someone is 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?”

Mind Insult Rude

Book:How to Be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life

Source: How to Be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life

“We must ever bear in mind --that apart from the will there is nothing good or bad, and that we must not try to anticipate or to direct events, but merely to accept them with intelligence.”

Trying Mind Accepting Events Bears Direct Anticipate

Author:Epictetus

“As in walking it is your great care not to run your foot upon a nail, or to tread awry, and strain your leg; so let it be in all the affairs of human life, not to hurt your mind or offend your judgment. And this rule, if observed carefully in all your deportment, will be a mighty security to you in your undertakings.”

Ifs Mind Humans Care Running Hurt Feet Security Walking Judgment Affair Legs Human Life Nails Strain Undertakings

Author:Epictetus

“Dare to look up to God and say, Deal with me in the future as Thou wilt; I am of the same mind as Thou art; I am Thine; I refuse nothing that pleases Thee; lead me where Thou wilt; clothe me in any dress Thou choosest.”

Mind Looks Art Deals Please Dresses Dare Refuse Thee Look Up Resignation Leading Me

Book:Discourses ...

Source: Discourses ...

“It is not the events but our viewpoint toward events that is the determining factor. We ought to be more concerned about removing wrong thoughts from the mind than removing tumors and abscesses from the body.”

Mind Body Events Ought Concerned Factors Viewpoints Tumors

Author:Epictetus

“If what charms you is nothing but abstract principles, sit down and turn them over quietly in your mind: but never dub yourself a Philosopher.”

Ifs Mind Turns Principles Down And Philosopher Abstract Charm

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

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

“The appearance of things to the mind is the standard of every action to man.”

Men Mind Action Standards Appearance

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

“There is but one way to tranquility of mind and happiness, and that is to account no external things thine own, but to commit all to God.”

Way Mind Accounts Commit One Way Tranquility

Author:Epictetus

“Don't just say you have read books. Show that through them you have learned to think better, to be a more discriminating and reflective person. Books are the training weights of the mind. They are very helpful, but it would be a bad mistake to suppose that one has made progress simply by having internalized their contents." Translation by Sharon Lebell”

Thinking Mind Persons Made Book Shows Would Be Mistake Progress Training Weight Helpful Translations Sharon Bad Mistake

Author:Epictetus

“Appearances to the mind are of four kinds. Things either are what they appear to be; or they neither are, nor appear to be; or they are, and do not appear to be; or they are not, and yet appear to be. Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man's task.”

Men Mind Kind Cases Wise Four Tasks Aim Appearance