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Some things are up to us [eph' hêmin] and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions–in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing.

Epictetus

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Epictetus
Philosopher
Epictetus of Hierapolis
Impulses
Short
Possessions
Office
Opinions
Opinion
Impulse
Public
Desires
Aversions
Whatever
Reputation
Reputations
Desire
Bodies
Offices
Body
Aversion
Things
Possession

More quotes by Epictetus

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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.
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If you seek Truth, you will not seek to gain a victory by every possible means and when you have found Truth, you need not fear being defeated.
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To a reasonable creature, that alone is insupportable which is unreasonable but everything reasonable may be supported.
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Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you and be silent.
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There is nothing good or evil save in the will.
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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.
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It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.
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God has entrusted me with myself.
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If you see anybody wail and complain, call him a slave, though he be clad in purple.
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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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Man is troubled not by events, but by the meaning he gives them.
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Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a condemnation of mere opinion .. . and the discovery of a standard of judgement.
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The wise realize that some things are within their control, and most things are not. They learn early on to distinguish between what they can and can't regulate.
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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.
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What disturbs and alarms man are not the things, but his opinions and fancies about the things.
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You lose only the things you have
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When our friends are present we ought to treat them well and when they are absent, to speak of them well.
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Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself.
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When a youth was giving himself airs in the Theatre and saying, 'I am wise, for I have conversed with many wise men,' Epictetus replied, 'I too have conversed with many rich men, yet I am not rich!’.
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Don't demand or expect that events happen as you would wish them do. Accept events as they actually happen. That way, peace is possible.
Epictetus