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“If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation.”
“You become what you give your attention to.”
“If you wish to improve, be content to appear foolish or stupid.”
“How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself?“
“If your choices are beautiful, so too will you be beautiful.”
“Don’t explain your philosophy, embody it.”
“If you need a witness to your virtue, be your own.”
“Devote the rest of your life to making progress.”
“Don’t just say that you have read books. Show that through them you have learned to think better.”
“It’s not things that upset us, but our judgments about things.”
“Circumstances don’t make a man, they only reveal him to himself.”
“Don’t set your heart on so many things, and you will get what you need.”
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”
“I cannot escape death, but I can escape the fear of it.”
“Welcome events in whichever way they happen, this is the path to peace.”
“The more we value things outside of our control, the less control we have.”
“Keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.”
“No man is free who is not master of himself.”
“Seek not good in eternal things, seek it in yourselves.”
“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”
About Epictetus
Epictetus was a Stoic philosopher who lived during the first and second centuries AD. Born into slavery, he was eventually freed and went on to establish a famous and well-attended philosophy school in Greece, where he taught his particular brand of Stoicism.
Epictetus believed that true happiness and freedom could only be achieved by accepting the things we cannot change and focusing on what we can control. He believed that we should strive to control our own thoughts and actions, rather than trying to control external events or other people.
Epictetus also emphasized the importance of self-discipline and living in accordance with nature. He believed that we should strive to align our actions with reason and virtue, and avoid being swayed by emotions or external influences.
Epictetus’s teachings have had a profound impact on Stoicism, and his ideas continue to be relevant and influential today. His emphasis on personal responsibility and self-control has resonated with many, and his philosophy has been adopted by people from all walks of life, from business leaders to athletes to everyday individuals.
Epictetus’ life and teachings serve as a reminder of the importance of self-control and living in accordance with reason and virtue. His influence on Stoicism continues to be felt today, and his philosophy remains a valuable guide for those seeking to live a happy and fulfilling life.