Epictetus: Thing (page 2)

“Exceed due measure, and the most delightful things become the least delightful.”

“A man should also be prepared to be sufficient unto himself—to dwell within himself alone, even as God dwells with Himself alone… So should we also be able to converse with ourselves, to need none else beside, to sigh for no distraction, to bend our thoughts upon the Divine Administration, and how we stand related to all else; to observe how human accidents touched us of old, and how they touch us now; what things they are that still have power to hurt us, and how they may be cured and removed; to perfect what needs perfecting as Reason would direct.”

“Practice yourself, for heaven's sake, in little things; and thence proceed to greater.”

“Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things.”

“No thing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.”

“To you, all you have seems small: to me, all I have seems great. Your desire is insatiable, mine is satisfied. See children thrusting their hands into a narrow-necked jar, and striving to pull out the nuts and figs it contains: if they fill the hand, they cannot pull it out again, and then they fall to tears.—'Let go a few of them, and then you can draw out the rest!'—You, too, let your desire go! covet not many things, and you will obtain.”

“Remember that it is not he who gives abuse or blows who affronts, but the view we take of these things as insulting. When, therefore, any one provokes you, be assured that it is your own opinion which provokes you.”

“Things true and evident must of necessity be recognized by those who would contradict them.”

“Since it is Reason which shapes and regulates all other things, it ought not itself to be left in disorder.”

“One that desires to excel should endeavour in those things that are in themselves most excellent.”

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

“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.”

“Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.”

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”