What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are. Epictetus More Quotes by Epictetus More Quotes From Epictetus Don't be concerned with other people's impressions of you. They are dazzled and deluded by appearances. Stick with your purpose. This alone will strengthen your will and give your life coherence. Epictetus purpose giving people When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it. It is not the things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance. Things and people are not what we wish them to be nor are they what they seem to be. They are what they are. Epictetus wish attitude people Any person capable of angering you becomes your master. Epictetus emotional anger masters Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible. Epictetus effectiveness understanding principles It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows. Epictetus change inspiring inspirational Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly. Epictetus philosophical laughing Be careful whom you associate with. It is human to imitate the habits of those with whom we interact. We inadvertently adopt their interests, their opinions, their values, and their habit of interpreting events. Epictetus opinion events motivational I have to die. If it is now, well then I die now; if later, then now I will take my lunch, since the hour for lunch has arrived - and dying I will tend to later. Epictetus hours lunch dying Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily. Epictetus working-on-yourself progress luck It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. Epictetus moving-on attitude happiness You become what you give your attention to...If you yourself don't choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest. Epictetus may attention giving If someone speaks badly of you, do not defend yourself against the accusations, but reply; "you obviously don't know about my other vices, otherwise you would have mentioned these as well Epictetus accusation vices speak Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals. Once you have determined the spiritual principles you wish to exemplify, abide by these rules as if they were laws, as if it were indeed sinful to compromise them. Don't mind if others don't share your convictions. How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be? Your nobler self cannot wait any longer. Epictetus self spiritual life When we blather about trivial things, we ourselves become trivial, for our attention gets taken up with trivialities. You become what you give your attention to. Epictetus taken attention giving Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths. Epictetus inward trials opportunity Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems Epictetus anxiety real men From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do -- now. Epictetus vow disappointing needs Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control. Stop aspiring to be anyone other than your own best self: for that does fall within your control. Epictetus self lying fall The people have a right to the truth as they have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Epictetus honesty truth happiness First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. Epictetus motivational inspirational life
