Epictetus
Greek Stoic philosopher (born in the 50s CE, died around 135); once a slave in Rome, he later taught at his own school at Nicopolis; his teaching survives in the Discourses and Encheiridion written up by Arrian of Nicomedia.
Epictetus did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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Their wordsEducation is the learning how to adapt the natural præcognitions to the particular things conformably to nature; and then to distinguish that of things some are in our power, but others are not.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 1st of 10 in this piece
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Our reading
Difficulties show what people are, like a trainer matching a wrestler with a rough opponent
Their wordsIt is circumstances (difficulties) which show what men are. Therefore when a difficulty falls upon you, remember that God, like a trainer of wrestlers, has matched you with a rough young man.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 2nd of 10 in this piece
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Our reading
What is in our power is by nature free; what is not is weak, slavish and in others' power
Their wordsAnd the things in our power are by nature free, not subject to restraint or hindrance; but the things not in our power are weak, slavish, subject to restraint, in the power of others.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 3rd of 10 in this piece
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Our reading
Spend time with people and you will either become like them or bring them round to your own ways
Their wordsIf a man has frequent intercourse with others either for talk, or drinking together, or generally for social purposes, he must either become like them, or change them to his own fashion. For if a man places a piece of quenched charcoal close to a piece that is burning, either the quenched charcoal will quench the other, or the burning charcoal will light that which is quenched.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 3rd of 10 in this piece
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Their wordsMen are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things; for example, death is nothing terrible, for if it were it would have seemed so to Socrates; for the opinion about death that it is terrible, is the terrible thing.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 4th of 10 in this piece
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Their wordsIt is the act of an ill-instructed man to blame others for his own bad condition; it is the act of one who has begun to be instructed, to lay the blame on himself; and of one whose instruction is completed, neither to blame another, nor himself.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 5th of 10 in this piece
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Our reading
Wish for things to happen as they do, not as you would like, and life will flow tranquilly
Their wordsSeek 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.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 6th of 10 in this piece
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Their wordsDisease is an impediment to the body, but not to the will, unless the will itself chooses. Lameness is an impediment to the leg, but not to the will.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 7th of 10 in this piece
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Their wordsNever say about anything, I have lost it, but say I have restored it.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 8th of 10 in this piece
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Our reading
Keep company with an impure companion and you become impure too, even if you started out pure
Their wordsFor you must know, that if your companion be impure, he also who keeps company with him must become impure, though he should happen to be pure.
↗Encheiridion of Epictetus, as recorded by Arrian (tr. George Long, 1877)gutenberg.org 10th of 10 in this piece
The line under a date fills as the words age, a quarter at a time: past a month, six months, a year, and three years. Empty means said within the last month; full, more than three years ago. It says when, not whether it still holds — a change of mind is marked on the claim itself.
Dashed means we only know the words existed by that date; they may be older.