You are a principal work, a fragment of [Goddess herself], you have in yourself a part of [her]. Why then are you ignorant of your high birth? Epictetus More Quotes by Epictetus More Quotes From Epictetus If you wish to live a life free from sorrow, think of what is going to happen as if it had already happened. Epictetus sorrow wish thinking Man is not fully free unless he is master of himself. Epictetus masters men Consider first the nature of the business in hand; then examine thy own nature, whether thou hast strength to undertake it. Epictetus introspection hands firsts You may fetter my leg, but Zeus himself cannot get the better of my free will. Epictetus free-will legs may 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 hurt feet running To the rational being only the irrational is unendurable, but the rational is endurable. Epictetus unendurable rational irrational 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 realizing wise 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 wife death children We must be afraid of neither poverty nor exile nor imprisonment; of fear itself only should we be afraid. Epictetus poverty should fear Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself. Epictetus views trying life 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 anxiety states sorrow It is better to advise than upbraid, for the one corrects the erring; the other only convicts them. Epictetus upbraid erring advice 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 discovery men philosophy 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 trying men life When our friends are present we ought to treat them well; and when they are absent, to speak of them well. Epictetus treats friends speak Nothing is in reality either pleasant or unpleasant by nature but all things become so through habit Epictetus pleasant habit reality 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 events life thinking 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-birthday anxiety loss
