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Epictetus

Greek philosopher who was a Stoic (circa 50-130)

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A child understands fear, and the hurt and hate it brings.
A wise man is he who does not grieve for the thing which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
All philosophy lies in two words Sustain and Abstain.
Any one thing in the creation is sufficient to demonstrate a Providence to an humble and grateful mind.
Appear to know only this,--never to fail nor fall.
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.
Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.
Control thy passions, lest they take vengeance on thee.
Difficulties are things that show what men are.
Difficulties show men what they are. In case of any difficulty remember that God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil.
Everything has two handles,--one by which it may be borne another by which it cannot.
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.
First say to yourself what you would be and then do what you have to do.
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit give it nothing which may tend to its increase.
If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase.
If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself 'I used to be angry every day then every other day now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods.
In every affair consider what precedes and what follows, and then undertake it.
It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.
Know, first, who you are and then adorn yourself accordingly.
Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.
Man is troubled not by events, but by the meaning he gives them.
No great thing 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.
No man is free who is not master of himself.
Only the educated are free.
Practise yourself, for heaven's sake, in little things and thence proceed to greater.
Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you, and be silent.
Reason is not measured by size or height, but by principle.
Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.
Tell me where I can escape death: discover for me the country, show me the men to whom I must go, whom death does not visit. Discover to me a charm against death. If I have not one, what do you wish me to do? I cannot escape from death, but shall I die lamenting and trembling? . . . Therefore if I am able to change externals according to my wish, I change them: but if I cannot, I am ready to tear the eyes out of him who hinders me.
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
The good or ill of a man lies within his own will.
The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forebearing.
There are some things which men confess with ease, and others with difficulty.
There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.
To a reasonable creature, that alone is insupportable which is unreasonable but everything reasonable may be supported.
We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
We have two ears and one mouth so we may listen more and talk the less.
We must not believe the many, who say that only free people ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that only the educated are free.
Were I a nightingale, I would act the part of a nightingale were I a swan, the part of a swan.
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.
When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing

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