Douglas Roberts > Douglas's Quotes

“Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you and be silent. ”
― Epictetus

“If you would be a reader, read; if a writer, write.”
― Epictetus

“If you wish to be a writer, write.”
― Epictetus

“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.”
― Epictetus

“It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens.”
― Epictetus

“Events do not just happen, but arrive by appointment.”
― Epictetus

“Asked, Who is the rich man? Epictetus replied, “He who is content.”
― Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of 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

“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

“Most of what passes for legitimate entertainment is inferior or foolish and only caters to or exploits people's weaknesses. Avoid being one of the mob who indulges in such pastimes. Your life is too short and you have important things to do. Be discriminating about what images and ideas you permit into your mind. If you yourself don't choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest. It is the easiest thing in the world to slide imperceptibly into vulgarity. But there's no need for that to happen if you determine not to waste your time and attention on mindless pap.”
― Epictetus, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness

“Know you not that a good man does nothing for appearance sake, but for the sake of having done right?”
― Epictetus

“It is better to die of hunger having lived without grief and fear, than to live with a troubled spirit, amid abundance”
― Epictetus

“We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.”
― Epictetus

“Appearances to the mind are of four kinds. Things either are what they appear to be; or they neither are, nor appear to be; or they are, and do not appear to be; or they are not, and yet appear to be. Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man's task.”
― Epictetus

“Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may
hear from others twice as much as we speak.”
― Epictetus

“Give me by all means the shorter and nobler life, instead of one
that is longer but of less account!”
― Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of Epictetus

“Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals. How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be? Your nobler self cannot wait any longer. Put your principles into practice – now. Stop the excuses and the procrastination. This is your life! You aren’t a child anymore. The sooner you set yourself to your spiritual program, the happier you will be. The longer you wait, the more you’ll be vulnerable to mediocrity and feel filled with shame and regret, because you know you are capable of better. From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do – now.”
― Epictetus, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness

“On the occasion of every accident that befalls you, remember to turn to yourself and inquire what power you have for turning it to use.”
― Epictetus, The Discourses