Quotes About Wisdom

This world is mere change, and this life, opinion.

We must make haste then, not only because we are daily nearer death, but also because the conception of things and the understanding of them cease first.

Remember: philosophy requires only what your nature already demands. What you've been after is something else again—something unnatural.

The best way of avenging thyself is not to become like [the wrong-doer].

If any man can convince and show me that I do not think or act right, I will gladly change; for I seek truth, by which no man was ever injured. But he is injured who abides in his error and ignorance.

Perfection of character: to live your last day, every day, without frenzy, or sloth, or pretense

A little wisp of soul carrying a corpse."—Epictetus.

But cast away the thirst after books, that thou mayest not die murmuring, but cheerfully, truly, and from thy heart thankful to the gods.

Finally, in every event which leads you to sorrow, remember to use this principle: that this is not a misfortune, but that to bear it like a brave man is good fortune.

Not to be offended with other men's liberty of speech, and to apply myself unto philosophy.

Note that everything that happens, happens justly, and if you observe carefully, you will find it to be so, not only with respect to the continuity of the series of things, but with respect to what is just, as if it were done by one who assigns to each thing its value.

All that comes to pass is as familiar and well known as the rose in spring, and the grape in summer. Of like fashion are sickness, death, calumny, intrigue, and all that gladdens or saddens the foolish.

As for thy thirst after books, away with it with all speed.

Thou art an old man; no longer let this be a slave, no longer be pulled by the strings like a puppet to unsocial movements, no longer either be dissatisfied with thy present lot, or shrink from the future. All

Self-contraction: the mind's requirements are satisfied by doing what we should, and by the calm it brings to us.

Remember: philosophy requires only what your nature already demands.

Rationality is the quality of seeing past appearances to discern the true nature of things. We call a person rational who is evenhanded and unprejudiced. Equanimity means the calm acceptance of all that exists and all that happens. Magnanimity means greatness of spirit, unmoved by the lure of pleasure, the lust for fame, and the fear of death.

The highest good was the virtuous life. Virtue alone is happiness, and vice is unhappiness. Carrying this theory to its extreme, the Stoic said that there could be no gradations between virtue and vice, though of course each has its special manifestations.

a ripe mature man, a perfect sound man; one that could not endure to be flattered; able to govern both himself and others.

The ruler must be a philosopher as well as a king; and he must govern unwillingly, because he loves philosophy better than dominion.

Studying philosophy instills modesty and straightforwardness in your character.

Not to be offended with other men's liberty of speech, and to apply myself unto philosophy. Him

A man must not only consider how daily his life wasteth and decreaseth, but this also, that if he live long, he cannot be certain, whether his understanding shall continue so able and sufficient, for either discreet consideration, in matter of businesses; or for contemplation: it being the thing, whereon true knowledge of things both divine and human, doth depend.

Thou must hasten therefore; not only because thou art every day nearer unto death than other, but also because that intellective faculty in thee, whereby thou art enabled to know the true nature of things, and to order all thy actions by that knowledge, doth daily waste and decay: or, may fail thee before thou die.