Quotes from Epictetus

Whenever externals are more important to you than your own integrity, then be prepared to serve them the remainder of your life.

Just begin, believe me, and you will see the truth of what I've been saying.

No. Instead from school it's straight off to the theatre, to a gladiatorial game, to an athletic show or the circus. Then from there you come back here, and from here, off you go again, the same people, the same pursuits – [15] you show no serious discipline, concern, or care for yourself.

remain steadfast in pursuing your mission, always willing to shed distractions.

Some things are within our power while others are not.

You are but an appearance, and not absolutely the thing you appear to be.

Lead me, Zeus, lead me, Destiny, To the goal I was long ago assigned And I will follow without hesitation. Even should I resist, In a spirit of perversity, I will have to follow nonetheless. [2] Whoever yields to necessity graciously We account wise in God's ways.

Each time an obstacle arises, remind yourself of this truth. While it may hinder some part of you, it cannot constrain your true self.

End the habit of despising things that are not within your power

No man is free unless he is the master of himself.

Now, what does the title 'citizen' mean? In this role, a person never acts in his own interest or thinks of himself alone, but, like a hand or foot that had sense and realized its place in the natural order, all its actions and desires aim at nothing except contributing to the common good.

death is nothing to fear in itself, or Socrates would have run from it.

When you are feeling upset, angry, or sad, don't blame another for your state of mind.

A vine cannot behave olively, nor an olive tree vinely – it is impossible, inconceivable.

What are you? A human being. If you think of yourself as a unit apart, then it is in accordance with your nature to live to old age, to be rich, and be healthy. But if your view of yourself involves being part of a whole, circumstances may make it right for you to be sick, go on a dangerous journey, endure poverty, even die before your time. Don't complain.

What, then, is your own? The way you live your life.

If you're writing to a friend, grammar will tell you what letters you ought to choose, but as to whether or not you ought to write to your friend, grammar won't tell you that.

If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say: 'He obviously does not know me very well, since there are so many other faults he could have mentioned'.

It is better to die poor, while free from fear and grief, than to live surrounded by riches and filled with anxiety.

Whenever distress or displeasure arises in your mind, remind yourself, "This is only my interpretation, not reality itself." Then ask whether it falls within or outside your sphere of power. And, if it is beyond your power to control, let it go.

Study, not in order to add anything to your knowledge, but to make your knowledge better.

If you are praised by others, be skeptical of yourself. For it is no easy feat to hold onto your inner harmony while collecting accolades.

So in life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control

You should keep learning as long as you are ignorant, – even to the end of your life, if there is anything in the proverb. And the proverb suits the present case as well as any: As long as you live, keep learning how to live.