Epictetus

If you wish to be a writer write.

You may be always victorious if you will never enter into any contest where the issue does not wholly depend upon yourself.

The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.

Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.

Never in any case say I have lost such a thing but I have returned it. Is your child dead? It is a return. Is your wife dead? It is a return. Are you deprived of your estate? Is not this also a return?

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

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

Silence is safer than speech.

Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.

It is not death or pain that is to be dreaded but the fear of pain or death.

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

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

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

Unless we place our religion and our treasure in the same thing religion will always be sacrificed.

All philosophy lies in two words sustain and abstain.

Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth is unhappy though he be master of the world.

If virtue promises happiness prosperity and peace then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us progress is always an approach toward it.

Whenever you are angry be assured that it is not only a present evil but that you have increased a habit.

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

It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures but the foolish to be a slave to them.

No greater thing is created suddenly any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom then bear fruit then ripen.

Only the educated are free.

The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.

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

One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent.

No great thing is created suddenly.

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not but rejoices for those which he has.

Men are disturbed not by things but by the view which they take of them.

First say to yourself what you would be, and then do what you have to do.

The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.

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

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

You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.

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

Freedom is the right to live as we wish.

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

If thy brother wrongs thee remember not so much his wrong-doing but more than ever that he is thy brother.

Practice yourself for heaven's sake in little things and then proceed to greater.

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

If you seek truth you will not seek victory by dishonorable means and if you find truth you will become invincible.

Imagine for yourself a character a model personality whose example you determine to follow in private as well as in public.

Nothing great is created suddenly any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom then bear fruit then ripen.

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

Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes but wish for them as they are and you will find them.

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