Quotes By Epictetus

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.

Silence is safer than speech.

If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother.

Only the educated are free.

If you seek truth you will not seek victory by dishonorable means, and if you find truth you will become invincible.

Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing, religion will always be sacrificed.

All religions must be tolerated... for every man must get to heaven in his own way.

Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.

Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly.

Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant.

Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.

We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope.

It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.

If virtue promises happiness, prosperity and peace, then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us, progress is always an approach toward it.

When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.

The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.

One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent.

No great thing is created suddenly.

We tell lies, yet it is easy to show that lying is immoral.

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.

The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.

Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort.

We are not to give credit to the many, who say that none ought to be educated but the free; but rather to the philosophers, who say that the well-educated alone are free.

The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.

No man is free who is not master of himself.

Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.

Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.