Epictetus Quotes

Although life is a matter of indifference, the use which you make of it is not a matter of indifference.

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?

Every habit and faculty is confirmed and strengthened by the corresponding actions, that of walking by walking, that of running by running.

Ἐφ' ἑκάστου τῶν προσπιπτόντων μέμνησο ἐπιστρέφων ἐπὶ σεαυτὸν ζητεῖν, τίνα δύναμιν ἔχεις πρὸς τὴν χρῆσιν αὐτοῦ. ἐὰν καλὸν ἴδῃς ἢ καλήν, εὑρήσεις δύναμιν πρὸς ταῦτα ἐγκράτειαν· ἐὰν πόνος προσφέρηται, εὑρήσεις καρτερίαν· ἂν λοιδορία, εὑρήσεις ἀνεξικακίαν. καὶ οὕτως ἐθιζόμενόν σε οὐ συναρπάσουσιν αἱ φαντασίαι.

For what is a child? Ignorance. What is a child? Want of instruction. For where a child has knowledge, he is no worse than we are.

For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.

Were I a nightingale, I would act the part of a nightingale; were I a swan, the part of a swan.

It is difficulties that show what men are.

In each separate thing that you do consider the matters which come first, and those which follow after, and only then approach the thing itself.

Don't you know that a good and excellent person does nothing for the sake of appearances, but only for the sake of having acted right?

For this too is a very pleasant strand woven into the Cynic's pattern of life; he must needs be flogged like an ass, and while he is being flogged he must love the men who flog him, as though he were the father or brother of them all.

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