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Epictetus Biography

Epictetus (/ˌɛpɪkˈtiːtəs/; Greek: Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos; c. 55 – 135 AD) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey) and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece for the rest of his life. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses and Enchiridion.

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Epictetus Quotes

What ought one to say then as each hardship comes? I was practicing for this, I was training for this.

Challenges, Hardship, Ought, Say, Training

To Epictetus, all external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control, but we can accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. Individuals, however, are responsible for their own actions which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power. As part of the universal city that is the universe, human beings have a duty of care to all fellow humans. The person who followed these precepts would achieve happiness.

Cities, Examine, Fate, Fellow, Human, Self

If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave, though he be clad in purple.

Clad, Complain, Complaining, Purple, See, Slave

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?"

Achieves, Asking, Good Person, Life, Occasion, Thing

What is it to be a philosopher? Is it not to be prepared against events?

Against, Events, Philosopher, Philosophy, Prepared

If we are not stupid or insincere when we say that the good or ill of man lies within his own will, and that all beside is nothing to us, why are we still troubled?

Good, Lying, Men, Nothing, Say, Stupid

Learn to distinguish what you can and can't control. Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, desires and the things that repel us. They are directly subject to our influence.

Aspirations, Desire, Directly, Influence, Life, Opinion

Whoever wants to be free, therefore, let him not want or avoid anything that is up to others. Otherwise he will necessarily be a slave.

Avoid, Be A Slave, Free, Let, Slave, Want

To make anything a habit, do it; to not make it a habit, do not do it; to unmake a habit, do something else in place of it.

Habit, Make, Place, Unmake

Of pleasures, those which occur most rarely give the most delight.

Delight, Give, Giving, Occur, Pleasure

When one maintains his proper attitude in life, he does not long after externals.

Attitude, Doe, Externals, Life, Long

Consider the bigger picture. . . . . think things through and fully commit!

Life, Thinking, Bigger, Picture, Fully

The origin of sorrow is this: to wish for something that does not come to pass.

Doe, Origin, Sorrow, Wish

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.

Achieving, Dangerous, Effort, Friendship, Thing, Training

Against specious appearances we must set clear convictions, bright and ready for use. When death appears as an evil, we ought immediately to remember that evils are things to be avoided, but death is inevitable.

Bright, Death, Evil, Set, Use

To the rational being only the irrational is unendurable, but the rational is endurable.

Irrational, Rational, Unendurable

Caretake this moment. Immerse yourself in its particulars. Respond to this person, this challenge, this deed. Quit evasions. Stop giving yourself needless trouble. It is time to really live; to fully inhabit the situation you happen to be in now.

Challenge, Challenges, Deeds, Giving, Person

It is not the events but our viewpoint toward events that is the determining factor. We ought to be more concerned about removing wrong thoughts from the mind than removing tumors and abscesses from the body.

Events, Factor, Mind, Ought, Thoughts, Viewpoints

What hurts this person is not the occurrence itself, for another person might not feel oppressed by this situation at all. What is hurting this person is the response he or she has uncritically adopted. It is not a demonstration of kindness or friendship to the people we care about to join them in indulging in wrongheaded, negative feelings.

Demonstration, Hurt, Kindness, People, Situation

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

Believe, Believing, Good, Philosophical, Wicked

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