Epictetus, a Greek Stoic philosopher, has left a lasting impact on the world with his profound teachings and insightful quotes. His philosophies encourage personal freedom, resilience, and a focus on what is within our control, guiding millions in their pursuit of inner peace and understanding. This article delves into ten themes of Epictetus’s wisdom, providing twelve quotes under each theme. These quotes are ideal for capturing the essence of Stoicism in your social media captions or simply for personal inspiration. Let us explore these timeless wisdoms that harmonize with the human experience, elevating our perspective on life's myriad challenges.
Quotes on Freedom
"No man is free who is not master of himself."
"Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control."
"Seek not the good in external things; seek it in yourselves."
"Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else."
"He is free who lives as he wishes to live; who is neither subject to compulsion nor to hindrance nor to force."
"The cornerstone of freedom is not being attached to things controlled by others."
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants."
"Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."
"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."
"Only the educated are free."
"True freedom is the capacity to manage your own affairs."
Quotes on Control
"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."
"Control your emotions, otherwise they will control you."
"You are not the victim of circumstance, but of your own responses."
"Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them."
"We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them."
"Demand not that things happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do, and you will go on well."
"To make the best of what is in our power, and take the rest as it naturally happens."
"No great thing is created suddenly."
"Care take what you have while the world lets you have it."
"If you are disturbed by things external, it is not they that trouble you, but your own judgment of them."
"No man is free who is not master of himself."
"How long will it be until I am able to realize that no enemy can injure me but myself?"
Quotes on Perspective
"Men are disturbed not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things."
"What concerns me is not the way things are, but the way people think things are."
"Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing."
"The soul that is free embraces and adapts to everything."
"Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness."
"Difficulties are things that show a person what he is."
"Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern."
"Things themselves don’t hurt or hinder us, nor do other people. How we view these things is another matter."
"You become what you give your attention to."
"Examine the past, that's how brands are built."
"Do not be embarrassed by your mistakes; learn from them and start again."
"If you would be a reader, read; if a writer, write."
Quotes on Wisdom
"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak."
"It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows."
"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants."
"He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at."
"Whoever then wishes to be free, let him neither wish for anything nor avoid anything that depends on others."
"Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it."
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
"Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly."
"The trial of the good person is to do no evil."
"There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will."
"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best."
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
Quotes on Life
"Life is not what happens to you, but how you react to it."
"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."
"The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things."
"Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."
"He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing."
"It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgments concerning them."
"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one."
"First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak."
"Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is a nobler art of leaving things undone."
"The more we value things, the less we value ourselves."
"Adhere to your purpose and you will soon feel as well as you act."
"Accustom yourself to attending closely to what is said by others, and as much as possible, be in the habit of speaking with others and being silent when others speak."
Quotes on Resilience
"The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it."
"No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig."
"Difficulties are things that show a person what he is."
"Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not."
"What really frightens and dismays us is not external events themselves, but the way in which we think about them. It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance."
"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best."
"Men are not afraid of things, but of how they view them."
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
"Do not seek to wrong him who has done wrong to you."
"What concerns me is not the way things are, but the way people think things are."
"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants."
"Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern."
Quotes on Virtue
"No man is free who is not master of himself."
"Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not."
"Men are disturbed not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things."
"The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it."
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
"A ship should not ride on a single anchor, nor life on a single hope."
"Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it."
"The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things."
"What really frightens and dismays us is not external events themselves, but the way in which we think about them."
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."
"Seek not the good in external things; seek it in yourselves."
"The more we value things, the less we value ourselves."
Quotes on Happiness
"Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not."
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."
"Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."
"The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it."
"No man is free who is not master of himself."
"What concerns me is not the way things are, but the way people think things are."
"No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig."
"Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them."
"Seek not the good in external things; seek it in yourselves."
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
"Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have."
"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants."
Quotes on Mindfulness
"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak."
"The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it."
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
"Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern."
"We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them."
"Care take what you have while the world lets you have it."
"Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."
"What concerns me is not the way things are, but the way people think things are."
"Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them."
"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one."
"Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is a nobler art of leaving things undone."
"No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig."
Quotes on Change
"No man is free who is not master of himself."
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."
"Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them."
"Difficulties are things that show a person what he is."
"We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them."
"No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig."
"The cornerstone of freedom is not being attached to things controlled by others."
"Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."
"If you wish to be a writer, write."
"Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern."
"Don’t seek to change that which is beyond your control."
Final words
Epictetus’s quotes, drawn from the well of Stoic philosophy, invite us to scrutinize our values and mindset, cultivating an inner resilience regardless of the turmoil around us. His teachings emphasize the importance of mastering oneself to attain true freedom, recognizing our power to choose our responses despite external circumstances. By embracing the notions of change, control, and mindfulness, these quotes offer insightful guidance for navigating life's uncertainties. Conclusively, Epictetus urges us to embody virtue, seeking true happiness and wisdom within, rather than in external validations. His words remain an enduring source of inspiration, encouraging a life led with thoughtfulness and intention.
