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Epictetus: 350 quotes94 likes

“You are a little soul, carrying a corpse.”

Epictetus

Fragment xxvi.
Golden Sayings of Epictetus, Fragments

“When we are invited to a banquet, we take what is set before us; and were one to call upon his host to set fish upon the table or sweet things, he would be deemed absurd. Yet in a word, we ask the Gods for what they do not give; and that, although they have given us so many things!”

Epictetus

35
Golden Sayings of Epictetus

“It is the act of an ill-instructed man to blame others for his own bad condition; it is the act of one who has begun to be instructed, to lay the blame on himself; and of one whose instruction is completed, neither to blame another, nor himself.”

Epictetus

5
tr. George Long (1888)
The Enchiridion (c. 135)

“For what constitutes a child?—Ignorance. What constitutes a child?—Want of instruction; for they are our equals so far as their degree of knowledge permits.”

Epictetus

That Courage is not inconsistent with Caution, book ii. Chap. i.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

“The first and most necessary topic in philosophy is that of the use of moral theorems, such as, "We ought not to lie;" the second is that of demonstrations, such as, "What is the origin of our obligation not to lie;" the third gives strength and articulation to the other two, such as, "What is the origin of this is a demonstration." For what is demonstration? What is consequence? What contradiction? What truth? What falsehood? The third topic, then, is necessary on the account of the second, and the second on the account of the first. But the most necessary, and that whereon we ought to rest, is the first. But we act just on the contrary. For we spend all our time on the third topic, and employ all our diligence about that, and entirely neglect the first.”

Epictetus

51
The Enchiridion (c. 135)

“Kings and tyrants have armed guards wherewith to chastise certain persons, though they be themselves evil. But to the Cynic conscience gives this power—not arms and guards.”

Epictetus

119
Golden Sayings of Epictetus

“Give me by all means the shorter and nobler life, instead of one that is longer but of less account!”

Epictetus

Fragment ix.
Golden Sayings of Epictetus, Fragments

“If what the philosophers say be true,—that all men's actions proceed from one source; that as they assent from a persuasion that a thing is so, and dissent from a persuasion that it is not, and suspend their judgment from a persuasion that it is uncertain,—so likewise they seek a thing from a persuasion that it is for their advantage.”

Epictetus

Book I, ch. 18.
Discourses

“To the rational being only the irrational is unendurable, but the rational is endurable.”

Epictetus

Variant translation: To a reasonable creature, that alone is insupportable which is unreasonable; but everything reasonable may be supported.
Book I, ch. 2.
Discourses

“Reason is not measured by size or height, but by principle.”

Epictetus

Book I, ch. 12.
Discourses

“Let not another's disobedience to Nature become an ill to you; for you were not born to be depressed and unhappy with others, but to be happy with them. And if any is unhappy, remember that he is so for himself; for God made all men to enjoy felicity and peace.”

Epictetus

That we ought not to be affected by Things not in our own Power, Chap. xxiv.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

“Seemeth it nothing to you, never to accuse, never to blame either God or Man? to wear ever the same countenance in going forth as in coming in? This was the secret of Socrates: yet he never said that he knew or taught anything… Who amongst you makes this his aim? Were it indeed so, you would gladly endure sickness, hunger, aye, death itself.”

Epictetus

85
Golden Sayings of Epictetus

“And are all profited by what they hear, or only some among them? So that it seems that there is an art of hearing as well as one of speaking.”

Epictetus

81
Golden Sayings of Epictetus

“O slavish man! will you not bear with your own brother, who has God for his Father, as being a son from the same stock, and of the same high descent? But if you chance to be placed in some superior station, will you presently set yourself up for a tyrant?”

Epictetus

Book I, ch. 13.
Discourses

“The materials of action are variable, but the use we make of them should be constant.”

Epictetus

How Nobleness of Mind may be consistent with Prudence, Chap. v.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

“Yet God hath not only granted these faculties, by which we may bear every event without being depressed or broken by it, but like a good prince and a true father, hath placed their exercise above restraint, compulsion, or hindrance, and wholly without our own control.”

Epictetus

Book I, ch. 6.
Discourses

“It is not reasonings that are wanted now; for there are books stuffed full of stoical reasonings.”

Epictetus

Of Courage, Chap. xxix.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

“The soul that companies with Virtue is like an ever-flowing source. It is a pure, clear, and wholesome draught; sweet, rich, and generous of its store; that injures not, neither destroys.”

Epictetus

Fragment ii.
Golden Sayings of Epictetus, Fragments

“What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.”

Epictetus

Book II, ch. 17.
Discourses

“These reasonings are unconnected: "I am richer than you, therefore I am better"; "I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am better." The connection is rather this: "I am richer than you, therefore my property is greater than yours;" "I am more eloquent than you, therefore my style is better than yours." But you, after all, are neither property nor style.”

Epictetus

44
The Enchiridion (c. 135)