The materials are indifferent, but the use we make of them is not a matter of indifference. Epictetus More Quotes by Epictetus More Quotes From Epictetus Man is not fully free unless he is master of himself. Epictetus mastersmen Consider first the nature of the business in hand; then examine thy own nature, whether thou hast strength to undertake it. Epictetus introspectionhandsfirsts You may fetter my leg, but Zeus himself cannot get the better of my free will. Epictetus free-willlegsmay As in walking it is your great care not to run your foot upon a nail, or to tread awry, and strain your leg; so let it be in all the affairs of human life, not to hurt your mind or offend your judgment. And this rule, if observed carefully in all your deportment, will be a mighty security to you in your undertakings. Epictetus hurtfeetrunning To the rational being only the irrational is unendurable, but the rational is endurable. Epictetus unendurablerationalirrational The wise realize that some things are within their control, and most things are not. They learn early on to distinguish between what they can and can't regulate. Epictetus realizingwise Never say about anything, "I have lost it," but only "I have given it back." Is your child dead? It has been given back. Is your wife dead? She has been returned. Epictetus wifedeathchildren We must be afraid of neither poverty nor exile nor imprisonment; of fear itself only should we be afraid. Epictetus povertyshouldfear Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself. Epictetus viewstryinglife No one who is in a state of fear or sorrow or tension is free, but whosoever is delivered from sorrows or fears or anxieties is at the same time delivered from servitude. Epictetus anxietystatessorrow It is better to advise than upbraid, for the one corrects the erring; the other only convicts them. Epictetus upbraiderringadvice Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a condemnation of mere opinion .. . and the discovery of a standard of judgement. Epictetus discoverymenphilosophy Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own Epictetus excellence Think of God more often than thou breathest. Epictetus thinking Try to enjoy the great festival of life with other men! Epictetus tryingmenlife When our friends are present we ought to treat them well; and when they are absent, to speak of them well. Epictetus treatsfriendsspeak Nothing is in reality either pleasant or unpleasant by nature but all things become so through habit Epictetus pleasanthabitreality What really frightens and dismays us is not external events themselves, but the way in which we think about them. It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance. Epictetus eventslifethinking If anyone is unhappy, remember that his unhappiness is his own fault... Nothing else is the cause of anxiety or loss of tranquility except our own opinion. Epictetus happy-birthdayanxietyloss It is unlikely that the good of a snail should reside in its shell: so is it likely that the good of a man should? Epictetus unlikelyshellsmen
