Home / Quotes / Quote by Epictetus

Quote by Epictetus

“Whoever then wishes to be free, let him neither wish for anything nor avoid anything which depends on others: if he does not observe this rule, he must be a slave.”

Quote by Epictetus

Book:Enchiridion

Work

Written by the ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus, this work is a compilation of his teachings on living a virtuous life and overcoming adversity through reason and self-discipline. more

Author

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. more

You May Also Like

“It is the act of an ill-instructed man to blame others for his own bad condition; it is the act of one who has begun to be instructed, to lay the blame on himself; and of one whose instruction is completed, neither to blame another, nor himself.”

Men Conditions Blame Lays Ill Instruction

Book:Enchiridion

Source: Enchiridion

“Who are those people by whom you wish to be admired? Are they not these whom you are in the habit of saying that they are mad? What then? Do you wish to be admired by the mad?”

People Wish Habit Mad

Book:Discourses

Source: Discourses

“As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.”

Men Body Worn Casting Garments Worn Out Dwellers Casting Off

Author:Epictetus

“Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the living, and her eyes they blind.”

Needs Soul Eye Picks Blind Mars Her Eyes Crow Flatterer

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 has been ordained that there be summer and winter, abundance and dearth, virtue and vice, and all such opposites for the harmony of the whole, and (Zeus) has given each of us a body, property, and companions.”

Has Beens Whole Body Given Virtue Summer Opposites Harmony Property Winter Vices Abundance Companion Zeus Summer And Winter

Author:Epictetus

“What disturbs people, these are not things, but the judgments relating to things”

People Judgment

Author:Epictetus

“Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices me wherever I am or whatever I do.”

Wells Taken Judgment Accounts Property Contrary

Author:Epictetus

“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.”

Understanding Principles Clear

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

“Were I a nightingale, I would act the part of a nightingale; were I a swan, the part of a swan.”

Swans Nightingales

Book:Selections from Epictetus

Source: Selections from 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