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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

“What upsets people is not things themselves but their judgements about these things.”

Thinking Reality Truth Judging Thoughts Judgement

Author:Epictetus

“As it is pleasant to see the sea from the land, so it is pleasant for him who has escaped from troubles to think of them.”

Thinking Trouble Sea Land Adversity Pleasant

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

“Think of God more often than thou breathest.”

Book:The Golden Sayings of Epictetus

Source: The Golden Sayings of 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

“Think of God oftener than you breathe.”

Thinking God Breathe

Author:Epictetus

“Do nothing in a depressed mood, nor as one afflicted, nor as thinking that you are in misery, for no one compels you to that.”

Thinking Misery Mood

Book:The Discourses of Epictetus: With the Encheiridion and Fragments

Source: The Discourses of Epictetus: With the Encheiridion and Fragments

“When any person treats you ill or speaks ill of you, remember that he does this or says this because he thinks it is his duty. It is not possible, then, for him to follow that which seems right to you, but that which seems right to himself.”

Thinking Persons Doe Seems Remember Speak Duty Treats Ill

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

“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

“Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do. Hold to your true aspirations no matter what is going on around you.”

People Thinking Inspirational Matter No Matter What Superiors Aspiration

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

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

Thinking Happens

Author:Epictetus

“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”

“I laugh at those who think they can damage me. They do not know who I am, they do not know what I think, they cannot even touch the things which are really mine and with which I live.”

Thinking Knows Laughing Mines Who I Am Damage

Author:Epictetus

“Let no man think that he is loved by any who loveth none.”

Thinking Men Life

Book:The Golden Sayings of Epictetus

Source: The Golden Sayings of Epictetus

“What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.”

Thinking Knows Firsts Self Philosophy Business Practice Learning Impossible Conceit Conceited

Author:Epictetus

“When you let go of your attention for a little while, do not think you may recover it whenever you please.”

Thinking May Littles Spiritual Spirituality Attention Please Letting Go

Author:Epictetus

“What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.”

People Thinking Way Life Inspirational Motivational Concern

Author:Epictetus

“It is unreasonable to think we can earn rewards without being willing to pay their true price. It is always our choice whether or not we wish to pay the price for life's rewards.”

Thinking Choices Wish Pay Willing Rewards Unreasonable Our Choices Pay The Price

Author:Epictetus

“Consider the bigger picture.....think things through and fully commit!”

Thinking Life Bigger Commit Bigger Picture

Author:Epictetus

“What really frightens and dismays us is not external events themselves, but the way in which we think about them. It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance.”

Thinking Way Life Events Significance Interpretation Dismay

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

“As you think, so you become.....Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and interpreting signs that aren't there.”

Thinking Life Mind Forever Busy Conclusion Jumping Manufacturing Interpreting Jumping To Conclusions

Author:Epictetus

“Renew every day your conversation with God: Do this even in preference to eating. Think more often of God than you breathe.”

Thinking God Conversation Eating Breathe Preference Conversations With God

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

“Watch yourself as you go about your daily business and later reflect on what you saw, trying to identify the sources of distress in your life and thinking about how to avoid that distress.”

Thinking Trying Watches Saws Source Distress Daily Business

Author:Epictetus

“Things themselves don't hurt or hinder us. Things simply are what they are. How we view these things is another matter.People think what they will think; it is of no concern to us.”

People Thinking Matter Hurt Views Concern Hinder

Author:Epictetus

“It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.”

Thinking Knows Inspirational Knowledge Impossible Philosophical Libertarian Pearls Of Wisdom Insightful Impossibility

Author:Epictetus