Thousands of years ago, around AD 50, under the Mediterranean sun, a child was born into slavery in ancient Greece. It’s not clear whether the child was ever given a name; the name we know him by can be translated as “gained” or “acquired”, reflecting his birth into service. We know him as Epictetus.
As a man, Epictetus found a passion in philosophy and was permitted by his master Epaphroditos, secretary to Emperor Nero and himself a former slave, to study Stoicism, attending the lectures of Gaius Musonius Rufus, a prominent Stoic philosopher in Rome at the time.
In AD 68, having been declared a public enemy by the Senate, Emperor Nero took his own life with the help of Epaphroditos, and Epictetus was granted his freedom sometime after.
With his newfound freedom, Epictetus began to teach Stoic philosophy in Rome and later set up his own school in Greece after being banished from Rome by Emperor Domitian around AD 98.
Despite never having written any of his teachings, we have come to know Epictetus philosophy through the meticulous notes taken by one of his students, Arian. Through Arian, we know Epictetus to be pragmatic, clear, practical, and straight to the point; his philosophy was one of real-world application, one that challenges us to question ourselves, tears down the lies and comforting stories we tell ourselves, and unapologetically asks us to rethink many of the preconceptions and beliefs we have of ourselves, other people, and the world around us, to nurture our inner resilience, wisdom, peace of mind, and virtue.
If you want to learn more about the work of Epictetus, I would pick up a copy of the Enchiridion, which translates as a ‘small manual or a handbook’, and it’s a fantastic summary of some of his principles that you can apply in your day-to-day life. If you’re looking for more information, Epictetus’ Discourses are a longer and more detailed collection of his work, which will give you a deeper understanding of his philosophy.
These are some of Epictetus’ greatest quotes:
Epictetus Quotes:
“We are not privy to the stories behind people’s actions, so we should be patient with others and suspend judgement of them, recognizing the limits of our understanding.”
– Epictetus
“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own…”
– Epictetus
“Nothing great 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.”
– Epictetus
“Know you not that a good man does nothing for appearance sake, but for the sake of having done right?”
– Epictetus
“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”
-Epictetus
“Deliberate much before saying or doing anything, for you will not have the power of recalling what is said or done.”
– Epictetus
“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of things. Thus death is nothing terrible, else it would have appeared so to Socrates. But the terror consists in our notion of death, that it is terrible. When, therefore, we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved let us never impute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own views. It is the action of an uninstructed person to reproach others for his own misfortunes; of one entering upon instruction, to reproach himself; and of one perfectly instructed, to reproach neither others or himself.”
– Epictetus
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
– Epictetus
“Other people’s views and troubles can be contagious. Don’t sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others.”
– Epictetus
“Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.”
– Epictetus
“I laugh at those who think they can damage me. They do not know who I am, they do not know what I think, they cannot even touch the things which are really mine and with which I live.”
– Epictetus
“Difficulty shows 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. Why? So that you may become an Olympic conqueror; but it is not accomplished without sweat.”
– Epictetus
“God has entrusted me with myself. No man is free who is not master of himself. A man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.”
– Epictetus
“To accuse others for one’s own misfortune is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one’s education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one’s education is complete.”
– Epictetus
“Don’t seek to have events happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do happen, and all will be well with you.”
– Epictetus
“The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.”
– Epictetus
“Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at a banquet. As something is being passed around it comes to you; stretch out your hand, take a portion of it politely. It passes on; do not detain it. Or it has not come to you yet; do not project your desire to meet it, but wait until it comes in front of you. So act toward children, so toward a wife, so toward office, so toward wealth.”
– Epictetus
“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?”
– Epictetus
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”
– Epictetus
“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of things. Thus death is nothing terrible, else it would have appeared so to Socrates. But the terror consists in our notion of death, that it is terrible. When, therefore, we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved let us never impute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own views. It is the action of an uninstructed person to reproach others for his own misfortunes; of one entering upon instruction, to reproach himself; and of one perfectly instructed, to reproach neither others or himself.”
– Epictetus
“Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our actions. The things in our control are by nature free, unrestrained, unhindered; but those not in our control are weak, slavish, restrained, belonging to others. Remember, then, that if you suppose that things which are slavish by nature are also free, and that what belongs to others is your own, then you will be hindered. You will lament, you will be disturbed, and you will find fault both with gods and men. But if you suppose that only to be your own which is your own, and what belongs to others such as it really is, then no one will ever compel you or restrain you. Further, you will find fault with no one or accuse no one. You will do nothing against your will. No one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you not be harmed.”
– Epictetus
