Epictetus quotes

Born
c. 55 AD Hierapolis, Phrygia.

Died
AD 135.

Occupation
Philosopher.

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey) and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece for the rest of his life.

Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly.
– Epictetus

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

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

We tell lies, yet it is easy to show that lying is immoral.
– Epictetus

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.
– Epictetus

All religions must be tolerated… for every man must get to heaven in his own way.
– Epictetus

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.
– Epictetus

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

No great thing is created suddenly.
– Epictetus

It takes more than just a good looking body. You’ve got to have the heart and soul to go with it.
– Epictetus

Only the educated are free.
– Epictetus

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

Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire.
– Epictetus

It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.
– Epictetus

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
– Epictetus

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

There is nothing good or evil save in the will.
– Epictetus

It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.
– Epictetus

Control thy passions lest they take vengence on thee.
– Epictetus

You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.
– Epictetus

If you wish to be a writer, write.
– Epictetus

The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.
– Epictetus

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

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

We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope.
– Epictetus

Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.
– Epictetus

If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked.
– Epictetus

If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked.
– Epictetus

If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.
– Epictetus