Epictētus (c.55 CE–c.135 CE) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was the most influential teacher of Stoicism of his time. He believed that one should concern oneself only with what one can control and suffer what one cannot influence.
Born a slave in Hierapolis, Asia Minor, Epictētus was lame from an early age, possibly from brutal treatment received while he was a slave. He is said to have endured his master’s physical abuse without complaint, treating his body merely as a garment.
Epictētus came to Rome early in life and studied under the Stoic philosopher Gaius Musonius Rufus. Epictētus was freed after Emperor Nero’s death. Like other philosophers who were critical of the tyranny of Emperor Domitian, Epictētus, got expelled from Rome around 89 CE.
Epictētus settled in Nicopolis in northwestern Greece. He was extremely popular, respected, and lived a life of the utmost simplicity, in accordance with Stoic doctrine. His reputation attracted people from all over the Roman world came to hear him, including Emperor Hadrian and a future historian by the name Flavius Arrian. Arrian became Epictētus’ pupil and recorded four books of his lectures as Discourses. Arrian also produced a synoptic version of Epictētus’s basic teaching, called the Manual.
Epictētus’s philosophical and religious beliefs are a combination of Stoicism and Cynicism. They emphasize common unity of man, submissiveness, humility, and charity. They also assert the ability and duty of a person to mold his or her character in the effort to achieve self-control and independence of external circumstance.
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We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
—Epictetus
Topics: Kindness, Communication, Listening
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
—Epictetus
Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.
—Epictetus
Topics: Fashion, Knowledge
It is no easy thing for a principle to become a man’s own unless each day he maintains it and works it out in his life.
—Epictetus
Topics: Time Management, Value of Time
Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.
—Epictetus
Ask not that events should happen as you will, but let your will be that events should happen as they do, and you shall have peace.
—Epictetus
Topics: Acceptance
What ought one to say then as each hardship comes? “I was practicing for this, I was training for this.”
—Epictetus
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.
—Epictetus
Topics: Persistence, Perseverance, Greatness, Growth, Greatness & Great Things, Resilience, Work, Wisdom, Endurance, Resolve, Patience, Creativity
Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit.
—Epictetus
Topics: Anger
A ship ought not to be held by one anchor, nor life by a single hope.
—Epictetus
Circumstances don’t make the man, they only reveal him to himself.
—Epictetus
Fortune is an evil chain to the body, and vice to the soul.
—Epictetus
Any one thing in the creation is sufficient to demonstrate a Providence to a humble and grateful mind.
—Epictetus
Topics: Love
There is only one way to happiness and
that is to cease worrying about things
which are beyond the power of our will.
—Epictetus
We are not troubled by things, but by the opinion which we have of things.
—Epictetus
Lampis the ship owner, on being asked how he acquired his great wealth, replied, “My great wealth was acquired with no difficulty, but my small wealth, my first gains, with much labor.”
—Epictetus
Topics: Wealth
Let death be daily before your eyes, and you will never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.
—Epictetus
Topics: Death, Dying
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
—Epictetus
Topics: Philosophy
Difficulties show men what they are. In case of any difficulty remember that God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil.
—Epictetus
Practice yourself, for heaven’s sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.
—Epictetus
Topics: Action, One Step at a Time, Discipline
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.
—Epictetus
Topics: Business, Philosophy, Wisdom, Learning, Knowledge, Creativity
Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling that desire.
—Epictetus
Then what makes a beautiful human being? Isn’t it the presence of human excellence? Young friend, if you wish to be beautiful, then work diligently at human excellence. And what is that? Observe those whom you praise without prejudice. The just or the unjust? The just. The even-tempered or the undisciplined? The even-tempered. The self-controlled or the uncontrolled? The self-controlled. In making yourself that kind of person, you will become beautiful—but to the extent you ignore these qualities, you’ll be ugly, even if you use every trick in the book to appear beautiful.
—Epictetus
Envy is the antagonist of the fortunate.
—Epictetus
Topics: Envy
There is nothing good or evil save in the will.
—Epictetus
Topics: One liners
Demand not that events should happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do, and you will go on well.
—Epictetus
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