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

“Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a condemnation of mere opinion .. . and the discovery of a standard of judgement.”

Men Philosophy Causes Opinion Conflict Standards Discovery Mere Recognition Judgement Condemnation

Author:Epictetus

“The beginning of philosophy is the recognition of the conflict between opinions.”

Philosophy Opinion Conflict Speech Respect Tolerance Recognition Individualism

Author:Epictetus

“It is better by assenting to truth to conquer opinion, than by assenting to opinion to be conquered by truth.”

Truth Opinion Conquer

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

“Do not so much be ashamed of that disgrace which proceeds from men's opinion as fly from that which comes from the truth.”

Men Opinion Ashamed Disgrace

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

“Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.”

Body Action Desire Opinion Property Pursuit Command Reputation One Word Aversion

Book:The Handbook of Epictetus

Source: The Handbook of Epictetus

“What disturbs and alarms man are not the things, but his opinions and fancies about the things.”

Men Opinion Fancy Alarms

Author:Epictetus

“When you have decided that a thing ought to be done and are doing it, never avoid bein seen doing it, though 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?”

Ifs Done Form Opinion Ought Decided Faults

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

“It is not things in themselves which trouble us, but our opinions of things.”

Opinion Trouble

Author:Epictetus

“Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, and desires and the demons that distract us from these goals. Outside of our control are such things as what kind of body we have, whether or not we are born into wealth, and how we are regarded by others.”

Kind Body Desire Goal Born Wealth Opinion Aspiration Demon

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

“In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action, but our inward opinions and principles.”

Kind Real Action Pain Death Causes Opinion Principles Inward Exile

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

“It is not he who gives abuse that affronts, but the view that we take of it as insulting; so that when one provokes you it is your own opinion which is provoking.”

Giving Views Opinion Abuse Insult Provoking Insulting

Author:Epictetus

“Not things, but opinions about things, trouble men.”

Men Opinion Trouble Oxford

Author:Epictetus

“Be careful whom you associate with. It is human to imitate the habits of those with whom we interact. We inadvertently adopt their interests, their opinions, their values, and their habit of interpreting events.”

Humans Motivational Values Interest Opinion Events Habit Careful Be Careful Associates Interpreting

Author:Epictetus

“Some things are up to us [eph' hêmin] and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions–in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing.”

Body Desire Opinion Office Possession Reputation Impulse Aversion Public Office

Author:Epictetus

“If anyone is unhappy, remember that his unhappiness is his own fault... Nothing else is the cause of anxiety or loss of tranquility except our own opinion.”

Ifs Remember Causes Loss Opinion Anxiety Faults Happy Unhappy Unhappiness Tranquility Happy Birthday Happy Girl

Author:Epictetus

“No man is disturbed by things, but by his opinion about things.”

Men Opinion Gratitude Disturbed

Author:Epictetus

“Learn to distinguish what you can and can't control. Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, desires and the things that repel us. They are directly subject to our influence.”

Life Desire Opinion Influence Subjects Aspiration

Author:Epictetus

“It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.”

Life Opinion Philosophical Libertarian Strikes Insult Insulting Insults You

Author:Epictetus

“The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.”

Men Two Opinion Power Wise Philosophical Patience

Author:Epictetus