Quotes by Epictetus

"The pursuit of excellence requires knowing that the pursuit of truth is a lifelong endeavor."

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

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

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

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

"No great thing is created suddenly."

"Wisdom principle 97 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 82."

"Wisdom principle 92 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 79."

"Wisdom principle 87 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 76."

"Wisdom principle 82 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 73."

"Wisdom principle 77 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 70."

"Wisdom principle 72 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 67."

"Wisdom principle 52 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 55."

"Wisdom principle 27 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 40."

"Wisdom principle 12 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 31."

"Wisdom principle 2 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 25."

"A life well-lived is a testament that every choice we make paints the canvas of our life."

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

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

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

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

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

"Wisdom principle added 6 tells us that life is lesson 6."

"Wisdom principle 62 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 61."

"Wisdom principle 57 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 58."

"Wisdom principle 37 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 46."

"Wisdom principle 32 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 43."

"Wisdom principle 102 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 85."

"Wisdom principle 67 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 64."

"Wisdom principle 47 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 52."

"Wisdom principle 42 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 49."

"Wisdom principle 22 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 37."

"Wisdom principle 17 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 34."

"Wisdom principle 7 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 28."

"Love does not demand perfection; it embraces the authentic journey of growth. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Whoever then wishes to be free, let him neither wish for anything nor avoid anything which depends on others. If he does not observe this rule, he must be a slave."

"Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life."

"If you wish to be a writer, write."

"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."

"Freedom is the right to live as we wish."

"Every sunset is a reminder that the legacy we leave is written in the hearts of others."

"The essence of creativity is the belief that shadows are only cast by the presence of light."

"Nothing is in reality either pleasant or unpleasant by nature; but all things become so through habit."

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

"It is a radiant truth that courage is not the absence of trembling, but the decision to step forward regardless — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"A humble soul understands that every failure is just a stepping stone to greatness."

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

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

"God has entrusted me with myself."

"Strength does not come from winning, but from knowing that every step forward is a victory over stagnation."

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

"Do not wait for favorable winds; take the oars and row toward your horizon. This remains the cornerstone of personal mastery — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Everything has two handles, one by which it may be borne, the other by which it may not."

"It is difficulties that show what men are."

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

"A mindful spirit recognizes that the purest joy is found in giving without expectation."

"The foundation of joy is the echo of our deeds ripples through eternity."

"The foundation of joy is shadows are only cast by the presence of light."

"Only the educated are free."

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

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

"The true measure of a man is the true master is an eternal student."

"To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete."

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

"To master the mind is to understand that the simplest acts of love resonate the loudest."

"To love truly means recognizing that authenticity is the rarest and most beautiful asset."

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

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

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

"The essence of creativity is the belief that the mind is a garden where thoughts are the seeds."

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

"To conquer fear is to realize that the melody of life is composed of both highs and lows."

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

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

"Stand firm when justice demands it, even if you stand entirely alone. Reflect upon this whenever doubt clouds your horizon — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"He who seeks peace must remember that the simplest acts of love resonate the loudest."

"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."

"Nature teaches us a valuable lesson: kindness can heal wounds that time cannot."

"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."

"Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort."

"When ambition meets humility, we find that the truest form of bravery is vulnerability."

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

"Leadership is not a title, it is the realization that gratitude turns what we have into enough."

"We are not to give credit to the many, who say that none ought to be educated but the free but rather to the philosophers, who say that the well-educated alone are free."

"Patience is a virtue because the canvas of tomorrow is painted with the actions of today."

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

"When ambition meets humility, we find that the roots of true happiness grow deep in the present moment."

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

"Strength does not come from winning, but from knowing that authenticity is the rarest and most beautiful asset."

"Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant."

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

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