Quote

The essence of good and evil is a certain disposition of the will.

Epictetus

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Epictetus
Philosopher
Epictetus of Hierapolis
Good
Disposition
Essence
Evil
Certain

More quotes by Epictetus

Image
Wherever any one is against his will, that is to him a prison.
Epictetus
Image
The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.
Epictetus
Image
It is hard to combine and unite these two qualities, the carefulness of one who is affected by circumstances, and the intrepidity of one who heeds them not. But it is not impossible: else were happiness also impossible.
Epictetus
Image
Let silence be your general rule or say only what is necessary and in few words.
Epictetus
Image
When we blather about trivial things, we ourselves become trivial, for our attention gets taken up with trivialities. You become what you give your attention to.
Epictetus
Image
What disturbs and alarms man are not the things, but his opinions and fancies about the things.
Epictetus
Image
What is death? A scary mask. Take it off-see, it doesn't bite.
Epictetus
Image
If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked.
Epictetus
Image
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.
Epictetus
Image
If what the philosophers say be true, that all men's actions proceed from one source that as they assent from a persuasion that a thing is so, and dissent from a persuasion that it is not, and suspend their judgment from a persuasion that it is uncertain, so likewise they seek a thing from a persuasion that it is for their advantage.
Epictetus
Image
I have to die. If it is now, well then I die now if later, then now I will take my lunch, since the hour for lunch has arrived - and dying I will tend to later.
Epictetus
Image
It is a mark of a mean capacity to spend much time on the things which concern the body, such as much exercise, much eating, much drinking, much easing of the body, much copulation. But these things should be done as subordinate things: and let all your care be directed to the mind.
Epictetus
Image
Never call yourself a philosopher, nor talk a great deal among the unlearned about theorems, but act conformably to them. Thus, at an entertainment, don't talk how persons ought to eat, but eat as you ought. For remember that in this manner Socrates also universally avoided all ostentation.
Epictetus
Image
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.
Epictetus
Image
Difficulty shows what men are.
Epictetus
Image
It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.
Epictetus
Image
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
Image
We can't control the impressions others form about us, and the effort to do so only debases our character.
Epictetus
Image
Men are not afraid of things, but of how they view them.
Epictetus
Image
If you wish to be a writer, write.
Epictetus