770 Quotes by Epictetus

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

Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.

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

Because I have no natural gifts, shall I on that account give up my discipline? Far be it from me! Epictetus will not be better than Socrates, but if only I am not worse, that suffices me. For I shall not be a Milo, either, and yet I do not neglect my body, nor a Croesus, and yet I do not neglect my property, nor, in a word, is there any other field in which we give up the appropriate discipline merely from despair of attaining the highest.

Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of men's desires, but by the removal of desire.

I must die. Must I then die lamenting? I must be put in chains. Must I then also lament? I must go into exile. Does any man then hinder me from going with smiles and cheerfulness and contentment?

What you shun enduring yourself, attempt not to impose on others. You shun slavery- beware enslaving others! If you can endure to do that, one would think you had been once upon a time a slave yourself. For vice has nothing in common with virtue, nor Freedom with slavery.

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

Man, what are you talking about? Me in chains? You may fetter my leg but my will, not even Zeus himself can overpower.