Quotes by Epictetus

Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.

Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours.

He who is not happy with little will never be happy with much.

Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it.

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

Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.

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

To live a life of virtue, you have to become consistent, even when it isn't convenient, comfortable, or easy.

What is a good person? One who achieves tranquillity by having formed the habit of asking on every occasion, "what is the right thing to do now?"

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

Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can.

Let silence be your general rule; or say only what is necessary and in few words.

Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power.

No matter what happens, it is within my power to turn it to my advantage.

Don't be concerned with other people's impressions of you. They are dazzled and deluded by appearances. Stick with your purpose. This alone will strengthen your will and give your life coherence.

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig.

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

When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it. It is not the things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance. Things and people are not what we wish them to be nor are they what they seem to be. They are what they are.

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

Be careful whom you associate with. It is human to imitate the habits of those with whom we interact. We inadvertently adopt their interests, their opinions, their values, and their habit of interpreting events.

When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.