Quotes by Epictetus

“Practice yourself for heaven's sake in little things and thence proceed to greater.”

“Ask not that events should happen as you will but let your will be that events should happen as they do and you shall have peace.”

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

“All philosophy in two words - sustain and abstain.”

“So when the crisis is upon you remember that God like a trainer of wrestlers has matched you with a tough and stalwart antagonist... that you may prove a victor at the Great Games.”

“No great 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.”

“He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.”

“We are not troubled by things but by the opinion which we have of things.”

“Men are not influenced by things but by their thoughts about things.”

“He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not but rejoices in what he has.”

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

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

“Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us no matter what we are doing? ... What do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you? If you have anything better to be doing when you are s...”

“All philosophy lies in two words sustain and abstain.”

“If you wish to live a life free from sorrow think of what is going to happen as if it had already happened.”

“Nature has given to men one tongue but two ears that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.”

“First learn the meaning of what you say and then speak.”

“Practice yourself in little things and thence proceed to greater.”

“If you would be a reader read if a writer write.”