Epictetus - Quodid

About

Picture of Epictetus

Epictetus ( EH-pick-TEE-təss; Ancient Greek: Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos; c. 50 – c. 135 AD) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was born into slavery at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present-day Pamukkale, in western Turkey) and lived in Rome until his banishment, after which he spent the rest of his life in Nicopolis in northwestern Greece.

Quotes from Epictetus

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.

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.

Only the educated are free.

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.

We hold in our hands, the most precious gift of all: Freedom. The freedom to express our art. Our love. The freedom to be who we want to be. We are not going to give that freedom away and no one shall take it from us!

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?

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

The good or ill of a man lies within his own will.

Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.