770 Quotes by Epictetus

Seeing that our birth involves the blending of these two things—the body, on the one hand, that we share with animals, and, on the other hand, rationality and intelligence, that we share with the gods—most of us incline to this former relationship, wretched and dead though it is, while only a few to the one that is divine and blessed.

He who exercises wisdom, exercises the knowledge which is about God.

Is it not the same distance to God everywhere?

And where there is ignorance, there is also want of learning and instruction in essentials.

If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, "He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.

Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it.

Whoever is going to listen to the philosophers needs a considerable practice in listening.

The philosopher's school, ye men, is a surgery: you ought not to go out of it with pleasure, but with pain. For you are not in sound health when you enter.

God save me from fools with a little philosophy—no one is more difficult to reach.