Epictetus: The Stoic Philosopher Who Transformed Minds Without Writing a Word
Epictetus’s life story is remarkable. Born a slave, walking with a limp, and eventually banished from Rome by an emperor, he nonetheless became one of the most influential Stoic philosophers in history. Remarkably, he never authored a book himself. Instead, his teachings were preserved by his student Arrian, who recorded Epictetus’s lessons in the Discourses and the Enchiridion. These works have served as essential guides for generals, prisoners, and leaders for nearly two millennia. The core of his philosophy can be summed up in a simple but powerful idea: some things are up to you and some things are not. Wasting energy on what lies beyond our control is futile. This article presents 60 timeless quotes from Epictetus, sourced from George Long’s respected translation, to help you master your judgments, refine your desires, and become resilient against life’s setbacks.
Epictetus Quotes on Control, Judgment, and What’s Up to You
Epictetus’s philosophy centers on understanding the dichotomy of control—recognizing what is within our power and what is not. He advises us to shift our focus only to what we can influence, thereby preserving our peace of mind.
1. “What is mine, and what is not mine; and what is permitted to me, and what is not permitted to me.” – Epictetus
2. “When I see a man anxious, I say, What does this man want? If he did not want some thing which is not in his power, how could he be anxious?” – Epictetus
3. “What is weeping and lamenting? Opinion. What is bad fortune? Opinion.” – Epictetus
4. “We ought to have these two principles in readiness, that except the will nothing is good nor bad; and that we ought not to lead events, but to follow them.” – Epictetus
5. “To be instructed is this, to learn to wish that every thing may happen as it does.” – Epictetus
6. “It is not that which has happened that afflicts this man, for it does not afflict another, but it is the opinion about this thing which afflicts the man.” – Epictetus
7. “Appearances, wait for me a little: let me see who you are, and what you are about: let me put you to the test.” – Epictetus
8. “As Socrates said, we ought not to live a life without examination, so we ought not to accept an appearance without examination.” – Epictetus
9. “Things themselves are indifferent; but the use of them is not indifferent.” – Epictetus
10. “No man then has the power either to procure for me any good or to involve me in any evil, but I alone myself over myself have power in these things.” – Epictetus
11. “Another will not damage you, unless you choose: but you will be damaged then when you shall think that you are damaged.” – Epictetus
12. “When any person treats you ill or speaks ill of you, remember that he does this or says this because he thinks that it is his duty.” – Epictetus
13. “If any person was intending to put your body in the power of any man whom you fell in with on the way, you would be vexed: but that you put your understanding in the power of any man whom you meet, so that if he should revile you, it is disturbed and troubled, are you not ashamed at this?” – Epictetus
14. “If you love an earthen vessel, say it is an earthen vessel which you love; for when it has been broken, you will not be disturbed.” – Epictetus
15. “Never say about any thing, I have lost it, but say I have restored it.” – Epictetus
16. “Keep this thought in readiness, when you lose any thing external, what you acquire in place of it; and if it be worth more, never say, I have had a loss.” – Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes on Freedom, Desire, and Self-Mastery
For Epictetus, true freedom comes not from external possessions or status, but from mastering one’s desires and will. By removing attachment to things beyond our control, we gain sovereignty over ourselves.
17. “He is free who lives as he wishes to live; who is neither subject to compulsion nor to hindrance, nor to force.” – Epictetus
18. “Freedom is acquired not by the full possession of the things which are desired, but by removing the desire.” – Epictetus
19. “Is freedom any thing else than the power of living as we choose? Nothing else.” – Epictetus
20. “We must not believe the many, who say that free persons only ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that the educated only are free.” – Epictetus
21. “What then is that which makes a man free from hindrance and makes him his own master? For wealth does not do it, nor consulship, nor provincial government, nor royal power; but something else must be discovered.” – Epictetus
22. “My man, as the proverb says, make a desperate effort on behalf of tranquillity of mind, freedom and magnanimity. Lift up your head at last as released from slavery.” – Epictetus
23. “Cease to make yourselves slaves, first of things, then on account of things slaves of those who are able to give them or take them away.” – Epictetus
24. “Only consider at what price you sell your own will: if for no other reason, at least for this, that you sell it not for a small sum.” – Epictetus
25. “Who then is the invincible? It is he whom none of the things disturb which are independent of the will.” – Epictetus
26. “If then you wish not to be of an angry temper, do not feed the habit: throw nothing on it which will increase it: at first keep quiet, and count the days on which you have not been angry.” – Epictetus
27. “We ought to exercise ourselves in small things, and beginning with them to proceed to the greater.” – Epictetus
28. “Remember that in life you ought to behave as at a banquet. Suppose that something is carried round and is opposite to you. Stretch out your hand and take a portion with decency. Suppose that it passes by you. Do not detain it.” – Epictetus
29. “The measure of possession is to every man the body, as the foot is of the shoe.” – Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes on Adversity, Exile, Death, and Training
Epictetus’s own hardships, including exile and physical limitations, shaped his teachings. He urged embracing adversity as an opportunity for self-discipline and growth, and to confront death without fear.
30. “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
31. “A bull is not made suddenly, nor a brave man; but we must discipline ourselves in the winter for the summer campaign, and not rashly run upon that which does not concern us.” – Epictetus
32. “What then should a man say on the occasion of each painful thing? It was for this that I exercised myself, for this I disciplined myself.” – Epictetus
33. “Practise, man, if you are irritable, to endure if you are abused, not to be vexed if you are treated with dishonour.” – Epictetus
34. “In every act consider what precedes and what follows, and then proceed to the act.” – Epictetus
35. “Death or pain is not formidable, but the fear of pain or death.” – Epictetus
36. “Confidence then ought to be employed against death, and caution against the fear of death.” – Epictetus
37. “Bring disease, bring death, bring poverty, bring abuse, bring trial on capital charges: all these things through the rod of Hermes shall be made profitable.” – Epictetus
38. “Is my neighbour bad? Bad to himself, but good to me: he exercises my good disposition, my moderation.” – Epictetus
39. “Show me a man who is sick and happy, in danger and happy, dying and happy, in exile and happy, in disgrace and happy. Show him: I desire, by the gods, to see a Stoic.” – Epictetus
40. “What then do you wish to be doing when you are found by death? I for my part would wish to be found doing something which belongs to a man, beneficent, suitable to the general interest, noble.” – Epictetus
41. “It needs only a few things for the loss and overturning of all, namely a small deviation from reason.” – Epictetus
42. “When you have remitted your attention for a short time, do not imagine this, that you will recover it when you choose.” – Epictetus
43. “How will you be nobody nowhere, when you ought to be somebody in those things only which are in your power, in which indeed it is permitted to you to be a man of the greatest worth?” – Epictetus
Epictetus Quotes on Character, Learning, and Living as a Philosopher
At the heart of Epictetus’s teachings is the cultivation of character and wisdom, emphasizing humility, self-awareness, and the continuous practice of philosophy as a way of life.
44. “In the first place, know who you are and then adorn yourself appropriately.” – Epictetus
45. “Consider who you are. In the first place, you are a man; and this is one who has nothing superior to the faculty of the will.” – Epictetus
46. “Man, if you are anything, both walk alone and talk to yourself, and do not hide yourself in the chorus.” – Epictetus
47. “What is the first business of him who philosophizes? To throw away self-conceit.” – Epictetus
48. “The beginning of philosophy to him at least who enters on it in the right way and by the door, is a consciousness of his own weakness and inability about necessary things.” – Epictetus
49. “The philosopher’s school, ye men, is a surgery: you ought not to go out of it with pleasure, but with pain.” – Epictetus
50. “Philosophers admonish us not to be satisfied with learning only, but also to add study, and then practice.” – Epictetus
51. “He who is unmusical is a child in music; he who is without letters is a child in learning: he who is untaught, is a child in life.” – Epictetus
52. “Know you not that a good man does nothing for the sake of appearance, but for the sake of doing right?” – Epictetus
53. “Who are they by whom you wish to be admired? Are they not those of whom you are used to say, that they are mad? Well then do you wish to be admired by madmen?” – Epictetus
54. “If it should ever happen to you to be turned to externals in order to please some person, you must know that you have lost your purpose in life.” – Epictetus
55. “Immediately prescribe some character and some form to yourself, which you shall observe both when you are alone and when you meet with men.” – Epictetus
56. “The signs of one who is making progress are these: he censures no man, he praises no man, he blames no man, he accuses no man, he says nothing about himself as if he were somebody or knew something.” – Epictetus
57. “I am richer than you, therefore my possessions are greater than yours: I am more eloquent than you, therefore my speech is superior to yours. But you are neither possession nor speech.” – Epictetus
58. “Where else is friendship than where there is fidelity, and modesty, where there is a communion of honest things and of nothing else?” – Epictetus
59. “Never in reply to the question, to what country you belong, say that you are an Athenian or a Corinthian, but that you are a citizen of the world.” – Epictetus
60. “You are carrying about a god with you, and you know it not.” – Epictetus
Epictetus never sought admiration for himself; rather, he urged his students to practice philosophy in daily life, to recognize and correct their own judgments, and to reclaim their peace from external events beyond their control. Choose one quote that resonates with you, speak it aloud tomorrow morning, and put it to the test before noon. Since Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor, was one of his most famous students, continuing with these Marcus Aurelius quotes from Meditations offers a living example of Stoic wisdom applied at the highest level of power and responsibility.
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