The essence of good and evil is a certain disposition of the will. Epictetus More Quotes by Epictetus More Quotes From Epictetus When we name things correctly, we comprehend them correctly, without adding information or judgements that aren't there. Does someone bathe quickly? Don't say be bathes poorly, but quickly. Name the situation as it is, don't filter it through your judgments. Give your assent only to that which is actually true. Epictetus namesgivinglife Covetousness like jealousy, when it has taken root, never leaves a person, but with their life. Cowardice is the dread of what will happen. Epictetus cowardtakenroots It is difficulties that show what men are. For the future, in case of any difficulty, remember that God, like a gymnastic trainer, has pitted you against a rough antagonist. For what end? That you may be an Olympic conqueror; and this cannot be without toil. Epictetus inspirationalmenreligion 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.' Epictetus perfectdoetrying What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are. Epictetus motivationalinspirationallife The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests. Epictetus encouragingupliftingpositive 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. Epictetus tryingwatchesthinking An ignorant person is inclined to blame others for his own misfortune. To blame oneself is proof of progress. But the wise man never has to blame another or himself. Epictetus ignorantwisemen 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 shipsgainsfirsts Wish that everything should come about just as it does. Epictetus acceptancewishdoe If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid with regard to external things. Don't wish to be thought to know anything; and even if you appear to be somebody important to others, distrust yourself. For, it is difficult to both keep your faculty of choice in a state conformable to nature, and at the same time acquire external things. But while you are careful about the one, you must of necessity neglect the other Epictetus choicesstupidwish Anything worth putting off is worth abandoning altogether. Epictetus procrastination What ought one to say then as each hardship comes? I was practicing for this, I was training for this. Epictetus hardshiptrainingchallenges Whoever wants to be free, therefore, let him not want or avoid anything that is up to others. Otherwise he will necessarily be a slave. Epictetus be-a-slaveslavewant I must die. I must be imprisoned. I must suffer exile. But must I die groaning? Must I whine as well? Can anyone hinder me from going into exile with a smile? The master threatens to chain me: what say you? Chain me? My leg you will chain--yes, but not my will--no, not even Zeus can conquer that. Epictetus conquerlegssuffering The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. Epictetus happyhappinessinspirational Nothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds you back. For your own will is always within your control. Epictetus power-of-positive-thinkingpositive-thinking When your thoughts, words, and deeds form a seamless fabric, you streamline your efforts and thus eliminate worry and dread. Epictetus worrymotivationalintegrity When a man is proud because he can understand and explain the writings of Chrysippus, say to yourself, 'if Chrysippus had not written obscurely, this man would have had nothing to be proud of.' Epictetus philosophicalwritingmen By accepting life's limits and inevitabilities and working with them rather than fighting them, we become free. Epictetus acceptingfightinglimits
