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When a man is proud because he can understand and explain the writings of Chrysippus, say to yourself, 'if Chrysippus had not written obscurely, this man would have had nothing to be proud of.'

Epictetus

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Epictetus
Philosopher
Epictetus of Hierapolis
Men
Explain
Philosophical
Proud
Written
Understand
Nothing
Writing
Obscurely
Would
Writings

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Never in any case say I have lost such a thing, but I have returned it. Is your child dead? It is a return. Is your wife dead? It is a return. Are you deprived of your estate? Is not this also a return?
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Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours.
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If you have anything better to be doing when death overtakes you, get to work on that.
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I laugh at those who think they can damage me. They do not know who I am, they do not know what I think, they cannot even touch the things which are really mine and with which I live.
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Of pleasures, those which occur most rarely give the most delight.
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If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.
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Give yourself fully to your endeavors. Decide to construct your character through excellent actions and determine to pay the price of a worthy goal. The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths.
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I am always content with what happens for I know that what God chooses is better than what I choose.
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Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control. Stop aspiring to be anyone other than your own best self: for that does fall within your control.
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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?
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To adorn our characters by the charm of an amiable nature shows at once a lover of beauty and a lover of man.
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Know you not that a good man does nothing for appearance sake, but for the sake of having done right?
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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.
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It is not my place in society that makes me well off, but my judgements, and these I can carry with me... These alone are my own and cannot be taken away.
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He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.
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We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout.
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It is the sign of a dull mind to dwell upon the cares of the body, to prolong exercise, eating and drinking and other bodily functions. These things are best done by the way all your attention must be given to the mind.
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Our duties naturally emerge form such fundamental relations as our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, our state or nation. Make it your regular habit to consider your roles-parent, child, neighbor, citizen, leader-and the natural duties that arise from them. Once you know who you are and to whom you are linked, you will know what to do.
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Every habit and faculty is preserved and increased by correspondent actions, as the habit of walking, by walking of running, by running.
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Everything has two handles,-one by which it may be borne another by which it cannot.
Epictetus