We’ve featured countless Epictetus quotes on this site, but we’ve yet to do a deep dive into the man himself and the philosophy he espoused that helped influence the course of history. Today, we will take a crash course in Epictetus 101 and explore everything you could want to know about one of the most influential Stoic philosophers.
Who was Epictetus, exactly, and what were the key tenets of his philosophy? What was his life like, and what are some of his most thought-provoking quotes?
Most importantly, how can the work of a man who lived thousands of years ago help you live a better life? In this article, we’re going to answer these questions and more!
Epictetus was a remarkable figure in ancient philosophy, born around 50 AD in what is now Turkey. His early years were anything but easy– he was born into slavery and lived in Rome, serving a wealthy owner who was a secretary to the emperor Nero. Despite his status as a slave, Epictetus had a burning desire to learn and was allowed to study philosophy.
Eventually, he gained his freedom and devoted his life to teaching and practicing philosophy. He moved to Greece and set up a school in Nicopolis, where many students were drawn to his philosophy. Epictetus's approach was rooted in Stoicism, which, if you’re new to our site, is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of reason, self-control, and understanding the natural order of things.
"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."
One thing you might not know about Epictetus is that he didn't write any of his teachings down. Instead, his student Arrian took detailed notes and compiled them into what we now know as the "Discourses" and the "Enchiridion," or "Handbook." These works have stood the test of time– despite being thousands of years old, they continue to inspire people with their matter-of-fact wisdom.
At the core of Epictetus's philosophy is the idea that while we can't control external events, we can control how we respond to them. He believed that true freedom and happiness come from within, through mastering our thoughts and desires.
Epictetus passed away around 135 AD, but his teachings live on. His insights into resilience, inner peace, and rational thinking remain highly relevant today, offering guidance on how to lead a fulfilling life despite the inevitable challenges and adversity we face.
Epictetus's philosophy is deeply rooted in Stoicism, which posited that a system should inform personal ethics, logic, and views on the natural world. Let’s examine the key aspects of his philosophical teachings.
Epictetus famously taught that we should concentrate on what is within our power to control—our thoughts, emotions, and actions—while accepting what we cannot control, such as external events and the actions of others. This principle is encapsulated in the opening lines of his "Enchiridion" (Handbook).
This is where he introduced the idea of the dichotomy of control, which differentiates between what is up to us (our actions and attitudes) and what is not (everything else). Recognizing this distinction helps to avoid unnecessary frustration and suffering.
Epictetus believed that true freedom came from within and taught his students this. By mastering our desires and aversions, we can achieve inner peace and resilience regardless of external circumstances.
Epictetus also encouraged embracing whatever happens as part of the natural order of things. This acceptance, known as "amor fati" (love of fate), involves seeing challenges as opportunities for growth and maintaining balance and inner peace in the face of adversity.
An important part of Epictetus’ philosophy is that he held that humans are rational beings and that living according to reason leads to virtue. Virtue, in turn, is the highest good and the key to a fulfilling life. He emphasized the four Stoic virtues: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.
One of the coolest things about the ideas of Epictetus and Stoicism as a whole is that they are intended to be practical, i.e., actually applicable to your life. His teachings are practical and aimed at helping individuals live better lives, not just lofty abstract ideas that only academics can understand. He provided guidance on dealing with everyday problems, managing emotions, and interacting with others ethically and compassionately.
"Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily."
For Epictetus, philosophy was an intellectual exercise and a way of life. He saw it as a means to achieve personal growth, improve moral character, and attain tranquility.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining moral integrity and acting according to one's principles, even in difficult situations. This integrity involves staying true to oneself and one's values.
Epictetus's ideas have profoundly influenced both ancient and modern thought, particularly in areas such as personal development and cognitive behavioral therapy. His teachings continue to offer valuable insights into how to live a life of purpose, resilience, and inner peace, even when the going gets tough.
As I mentioned earlier, Epictetus didn't write down any of his teachings. Still, his student Arrian did us all a favor by compiling his lessons into two main works: the "Discourses" and the "Enchiridion.”
The "Discourses" are a series of informal lectures where Epictetus shares his thoughts on how to live a good and virtuous life. These talks cover many topics, from dealing with hardship to understanding what’s truly within our control. They’re packed with practical advice and real-life examples, making Stoic philosophy accessible and relevant.
The "Enchiridion," on the other hand, is sort of like a condensed version of the "Discourses." It’s a short manual that distills Epictetus’s key teachings into bite-sized pieces of wisdom. If you’re looking for quick, actionable insights on how to live according to Stoic principles, this is the go-to text.
"He who is unhappy with little will never be happy with much."
Both works emphasize the importance of focusing on what you can control, maintaining inner peace, and living virtuously. They’re all about helping you navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and resilience. Even today, these teachings are super useful for anyone looking to improve their mindset and approach to life.
Epictetus has left an incredible legacy that continues to influence people even in our modern landscape. His teachings on Stoic philosophy, especially his ideas about focusing on what we can control and accepting what we can't, have resonated through the ages.
As we discussed earlier, Epictetus's influence started with his students, particularly Arrian, who recorded his teachings in the "Discourses" and the "Enchiridion." These texts have become foundational works in Stoicism, guiding countless individuals in their personal and philosophical journeys.
Throughout history, many prominent figures have been inspired by Epictetus. One of our favorite Stoic philosophers, The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, was heavily influenced by his teachings and even referred to him in his own philosophical work. This personal journal was later published as "Meditations." This shows just how impactful Epictetus's ideas were, even among the most influential people of his time.
In modern times, his teachings have found a new audience. His emphasis (along with other Stoic philosophers like Aurelius) on resilience, self-control, and inner peace has made Stoicism a popular philosophy for personal development and mental well-being. Concepts from Epictetus’s work are also used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people manage their thoughts and emotions more effectively.
Epictetus's legacy is all about practical wisdom. His ideas help people navigate life's challenges with a clear mind and a steady heart, making his teachings just as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.
Epictetus's teachings encompass a broad spectrum of the essential themes of life, each offering profound insights and practical wisdom. Whether discussing adversity, anger, death, desire, discipline, or virtue, his words continue to resonate and inspire. I’ve gathered a collection of quotes by Epictetus and organized them by topic to provide you with timeless guidance and profound reflections on each aspect of living a meaningful and balanced life.
Epictetus had a lot to say about facing challenges and hardships. His teachings are filled with wisdom on dealing with adversity with grace and resilience. Here are some of his most profound quotes, offering timeless advice on maintaining inner strength and perspective during tough times.
“As it is pleasant to see the sea from the land, so it is pleasant for him who has escaped from troubles to think of them.”
“The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.”
“Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths.”
“Nothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds you back. For your own will is always within your control. Sickness may challenge your body. But are you merely your body? Lameness may impede your legs. But you are not merely your legs. Your will is bigger than your legs. Your will needn't be affected by an incident unless you let it.”
“Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.”
“It is difficulties that show what men are. For the future, in case of any difficulty, remember that God, like a gymnastic trainer, has pitted you against a rough antagonist. For what end? That you may be an Olympic conqueror; and this cannot be without toil.”
“Common and vulgar people ascribe all ills that they feel to others; people of little wisdom ascribe to themselves; people of much wisdom, to no one.”
“In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; but in adversity it is the most difficult of all things.”
“To accuse others for one's own misfortunes 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.”
“Caretake this moment. Immerse yourself in its particulars. Respond to this person, this challenge, this deed. Quit evasions. Stop giving yourself needless trouble. It is time to really live; to fully inhabit the situation you happen to be in now.”
“What ought one to say then as each hardship comes? I was practicing for this, I was training for this.”
“Men are not worried by things, but by their ideas about things. When we meet with difficulties, become anxious or troubled, let us not blame others, but rather ourselves. That is: our ideas about things.”
“Never say of anything I have lost it, only say that I have given it back.”
Epictetus understood the powerful and often destructive nature of anger and had much to say about it. His teachings offer valuable insights on how to manage and overcome this intense emotion. Here are some of his most enlightening quotes on anger, guiding us to maintain composure and cultivate inner peace in the face of provocation.
“Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.”
“When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.”
“If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase.”
“If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself: 'I used to be angry every day; then every other day; now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods.”
“In the long run, every man will pay the penalty for this own misdeeds.”
Understanding the anxieties that all too often plague the human mind, Epictetus offers practical advice on navigating and alleviating these feelings. His wisdom provides valuable insights on achieving tranquility and maintaining a calm, centered state of mind. Here are some of his most insightful quotes on the topic, offering timeless guidance for those seeking peace amidst anxiety.
“Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems.”
“No one who is in a state of fear or sorrow or tension is free, but whosoever is delivered from sorrows or fears or anxieties is at the same time delivered from servitude.”
“If anyone is unhappy, remember that his unhappiness is his own fault... Nothing else is the cause of anxiety or loss of tranquility except our own opinion.”
“It is not death or pain that is to be dreaded, but the fear of pain or death.”
Attitude plays a crucial role in how we experience life, and Epictetus's teachings emphasize the importance of maintaining a positive and resilient mindset. His wisdom offers profound insights on shaping our attitudes to better handle whatever life throws our way. Here are some of his most impactful quotes on attitude, providing timeless advice on cultivating a strong and positive outlook.
“We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.”
“When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it; you can either accept it or resent it.”
“When one maintains his proper attitude in life, he does not long after externals.”
“It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
“Other people's views and troubles can be contagious. Don't sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others.”
Finding contentment in life is a central theme in Epictetus's teachings. He believed that true happiness comes from within, rather than from external circumstances. Here are some of his most profound quotes on contentment, offering timeless wisdom on how to achieve inner peace and satisfaction regardless of life's challenges.
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
“Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire.”
“Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.”
“Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress.”
“Contentment comes not so much from great wealth as from few wants.”
Epictetus approached the topic of death with the same calm and rational perspective that defined his Stoic philosophy. He believed that accepting the inevitability of death is crucial to living a free and fulfilling life. Here are some of his most profound quotes on death, offering timeless wisdom on embracing mortality and finding peace in the natural order of life.
“Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible be daily before your eyes, but chiefly death, and you win never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.”
“In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action, but our inward opinions and principles.”
“Why, do you not know, then, that the origin of all human evils, and of baseness, and cowardice, is not death, but rather the fear of death?”
“Against specious appearances we must set clear convictions, bright and ready for use. When death appears as an evil, we ought immediately to remember that evils are things to be avoided, but death is inevitable.”
“Never say about anything, "I have lost it," but only "I have given it back." Is your child dead? It has been given back. Is your wife dead? She has been returned.”
Epictetus often spoke about the nature of desire and how it impacts our lives. He believed that managing our desires is essential for achieving true freedom and contentment. Here are some of his most insightful quotes on desire, offering wisdom on how to cultivate self-control and focus on what truly matters.
“No greater thing 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.”
“Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire.”
“If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked.”
“He is free who lives as he wishes to live; who is neither subject to compulsion nor to hindrance, nor to force; whose movements to action are not impeded, whose desires attain their purpose, and who does not fall into that which he would avoid.”
“One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent.”
“The flourishing life cannot be achieved until we moderate our desires and see how superficial and fleeting they are.”
Discipline is a core element in Epictetus's teachings, reflecting his belief that self-control and dedication are essential for personal growth and inner peace. He emphasized the importance of practicing discipline in all aspects of life to achieve true freedom and resilience. Here are some of his most enlightening quotes on discipline, offering timeless guidance on cultivating a steadfast and focused approach to living well.
“Practice yourself, for heaven's sake, in little things, and thence proceed to greater.”
“So you wish to conquer in the Olympic Games, my friend? And I, too... But first mark the conditions and the consequences. You will have to put yourself under discipline; to eat by rule, to avoid cakes and sweetmeats; to take exercise at the appointed hour whether you like it or not, in cold and heat; to abstain from cold drinks and wine at your will. Then, in the conflict itself you are likely enough to dislocate your wrist or twist your ankle, to swallow a great deal of dust, to be severely thrashed, and after all of these things, to be defeated.”
Epictetus had a profound understanding of failure and its role in personal growth. He viewed setbacks not as insurmountable obstacles but as valuable opportunities for learning and development. Here are some of his most insightful quotes on failure, offering timeless wisdom on how to embrace challenges and use them as stepping stones to success.
“No matter what happens, it is within my power to turn it to my advantage.”
“Appear to know only this--never to fail nor fall.”
Gratitude was a significant theme in Epictetus's teachings, reflecting his belief in appreciating what we have rather than yearning for what we don't. He encouraged cultivating a thankful mindset to find joy and contentment in everyday life. Here are some of his most insightful quotes on gratitude, offering timeless wisdom on embracing thankfulness and recognizing the value in all aspects of our lives.
“We need to regularly stop and take stock; to sit down and determine within ourselves which things are worth valuing and which things are not; which risks are worth the cost and which are not. Even the most confusing or hurtful aspects of life can be made more tolerable by clear seeing and by choice.”
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
“No man is disturbed by things, but by his opinion about things.”
“Everything has two handles,-one by which it may be borne; another by which it cannot.”
Epictetus often highlighted the importance of habits in shaping our character and daily lives. He believed that cultivating good habits is essential for personal growth and living a virtuous life. Here are some of his most insightful quotes on habits, handing us wisdom on how to build and maintain practices that lead to a fulfilling and disciplined existence.
“Nothing is in reality either pleasant or unpleasant by nature but all things become so through habit.”
“Be careful whom you associate with. It is human to imitate the habits of those with whom we interact. We inadvertently adopt their interests, their opinions, their values, and their habit of interpreting events.”
“Every habit and faculty is preserved and increased by correspondent actions, as the habit of walking, by walking; of running, by running.”
“To make anything a habit, do it; to not make it a habit, do not do it; to unmake a habit, do something else in place of it.”
Having a strong sense of purpose in life is essential to living your best life, and Epictetus teaches us this in his wise words.
“Don't be concerned with other people's impressions of you. They are dazzled and deluded by appearances. Stick with your purpose. This alone will strengthen your will and give your life coherence.”
“In order to please others, we lose our hold on our life's purpose.”
“Focus not on what he or she does, but on keeping to your higher purpose. Your own purpose should seek harmony with nature itself. For this is the true road to freedom.”
Epictetus believed that virtue is the foundation of a good and meaningful life. He taught that living virtuously involves aligning our actions with principles like wisdom, courage, justice, and self-control. Here are some of his most powerful quotes on virtue, offering guidance on how to lead a life of integrity and moral excellence.
“To live a life of virtue, you have to become consistent, even when it isn't convenient, comfortable, or easy.”
“Law intends indeed to do service to human life, but it is not able when men do not choose to accept her services; for it is only in those who are obedient to her that she displays her special virtue.”
“Freedom and slavery, the one is the name of virtue, and the other of vice, and both are acts of the will.”
“If virtue promises happiness, prosperity and peace, then progress in virtue is progress in each of these for to whatever point the perfection of anything brings us, progress is always an approach toward it.”
Epictetus had insightful views on wealth, emphasizing that true riches lie not in material possessions but in inner contentment and virtue. He believed that an obsession with wealth can lead to unnecessary suffering and distract from what truly matters in life. Here are some of his most thought-provoking quotes on wealth, giving us advice on finding true value and contentment beyond material gains.
“Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, and desires and the demons that distract us from these goals. Outside of our control are such things as what kind of body we have, whether or not we are born into wealth, and how we are regarded by others.”
“Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy, though he be master of the world.”
“Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant.”
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
Epictetus and the other Stoic philosophers placed great emphasis on the pursuit of wisdom as a guiding principle for a meaningful life. He believed that true wisdom involves understanding the nature of the world and our place within it, as well as making rational decisions aligned with virtue. Here are some of his most profound quotes on wisdom, which can help us learn how to cultivate insight and live wisely.
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
“It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.”
“It is impossible that happiness, and yearning for what is not present, should ever be united.”
“He who exercises wisdom exercises the knowledge which is about God.”
“The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.”
Thank you for attending this session of Epictetus 101! Now that you know all of the basics of the man and his philosophy, you can start applying his ideas to your life and even share them with those you care about.
It really is remarkable that the thoughts and ideas of someone that lived thousands of years ago could be so helpful to us in the modern day, particularly because he didn’t even write them down! If you’re looking for more useful guidance as you navigate the adversities of life, make sure you check out the rest of our Stoic Quotes blog.
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