Quote

If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked.

Epictetus

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Epictetus
Philosopher
Epictetus of Hierapolis
Begin
Desire
Believe
Good
Believing
Wicked
Philosophical

More quotes by Epictetus

Image
O slavish man! will you not bear with your own brother, who has God for his Father, as being a son from the same stock, and of the same high descent? But if you chance to be placed in some superior station, will you presently set yourself up for a tyrant?
Epictetus
Image
The materials are indifferent, but the use we make of them is not a matter of indifference.
Epictetus
Image
Seek not the good in external thingsseek it in yourselves.
Epictetus
Image
There is only one thing for which God has sent me into the world, and that is to develop every kind of virtue or strength, and there is nothing in all the world that I cannot use for this purpose.
Epictetus
Image
One of the best ways to elevate your character is to emulate worthy role models
Epictetus
Image
Events do not just happen, but arrive by appointment.
Epictetus
Image
Asked, Who is the rich man? Epictetus replied, �He who is content.
Epictetus
Image
What disturbs and alarms man are not the things, but his opinions and fancies about the things.
Epictetus
Image
Things themselves don't hurt or hinder us. Things simply are what they are. How we view these things is another matter.People think what they will think it is of no concern to us.
Epictetus
Image
We should not have either a blunt knife or a freedom of speech which is ill-managed.
Epictetus
Image
A guide, on finding a man who has lost his way, brings him back to the right path—he does not mock and jeer at him and then take himself off. You also must show the unlearned man the truth, and you will see that he will follow. But so long as you do not show it him, you should not mock, but rather feel your own incapacity.
Epictetus
Image
What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.
Epictetus
Image
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.
Epictetus
Image
Everything has two handles,-one by which it may be borne another by which it cannot.
Epictetus
Image
We should do everything both cautiously and confidently at the same time.
Epictetus
Image
What is learned without pleasure is forgotten without remorse.
Epictetus
Image
Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.
Epictetus
Image
Give me by all means the shorter and nobler life, instead of one that is longer but of less account!
Epictetus
Image
If anyone should tell you that a particular person has spoken critically of you, don't bother with excuses or defenses. Just smile and reply, I guess that person doesn't know about all my other faults. Otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned only these.
Epictetus
Image
Freedom and slavery, the one is the name of virtue, and the other of vice, and both are acts of the will.
Epictetus