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100 Great Quotes By Epictetus, The Author Of The Art Of Living

Famous As: Greek Stoic Philosopher
Born On: 50 AD
Died On: 135 AD
Born In: Hierapolis Ancient City, Turkey
Died At Age: 85
Epictetus was a Greek-speaking Stoic philosopher who believed that philosophy was a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline. He believed that the foundation of philosophy was self-knowledge and that ignorance and gullibility needed to be evaded. Epictetus argued that logic provided valid reasoning and certainty in judgement. He claimed that philosophy was divided into three branches – the application of doctrine, the reasons and the establishment of the reasons if it were a right one. Epictetus believed that all external events were beyond one’s control and that one should accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. However, individuals are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. Epictetus described philosophy as learning. He believed true education was recognizing that there is nothing more supreme than one’s will or purpose. Epictetus also claimed that men are not entirely responsible for the ideas that they present to their consciousness. However, they are wholly responsible for the way in which they use the ideas. In his life, Epictetus did not pen his teachings. Instead it was done by his pupil Arrian. Epictetus’s philosophy of life can be clearly seen in his quotes that give a deep meaning to life and living. Check this segment and find some awesome quotes by Epictetus.
If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer,

If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, "He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.

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

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

Epictetus
Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it.

Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it.

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

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

Epictetus
Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems

Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems

Epictetus
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.

Epictetus
If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.

If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.

Epictetus
It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

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

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

Epictetus
Any person capable of angering you becomes your master;
he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.

Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.

Epictetus
Other people's views and troubles can be contagious. Don't sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others.

Other people's views and troubles can be contagious. Don't sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others.

Epictetus
He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.

He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.

Epictetus
Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.

Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.

Epictetus
Only the educated are free.

Only the educated are free.

Epictetus
It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.

It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.

Epictetus
Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself.

Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself.

Epictetus
To accuse others for one's own misfortune is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete.

To accuse others for one's own misfortune is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete.

Epictetus
Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.

Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.

Epictetus
People are not disturbed by things, but by the views they take of them.

People are not disturbed by things, but by the views they take of them.

Epictetus
I laugh at those who think they can damage me. They do not know who I am, they do not know what I think, they cannot even touch the things which are really mine and with which I live.

I laugh at those who think they can damage me. They do not know who I am, they do not know what I think, they cannot even touch the things which are really mine and with which I live.

Epictetus
You are a little soul carrying around a corpse

You are a little soul carrying around a corpse

Epictetus
Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do. Hold to your true aspirations no matter what is going on around you.

Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do. Hold to your true aspirations no matter what is going on around you.

Epictetus
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.

First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.

Epictetus
The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.

The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.

Epictetus
No man is free who is not master of himself.

No man is free who is not master of himself.

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

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

Epictetus
Seek not the good in external things;seek it in yourselves.

Seek not the good in external things;seek it in yourselves.

Epictetus
Do not try to seem wise to others.

Do not try to seem wise to others.

Epictetus
If evil be said of thee, and if it be true, correct thyself; if it be a lie, laugh at it.

If evil be said of thee, and if it be true, correct thyself; if it be a lie, laugh at it.

Epictetus
Don't seek to have events happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do happen, and all will be well with you.

Don't seek to have events happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do happen, and all will be well with you.

Epictetus