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If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.

Epictetus

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Epictetus
Philosopher
Epictetus of Hierapolis
Good
Goodness
Wish
Firsts
First
Believe

More quotes by Epictetus

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Ask yourself, How are my thoughts, words and deeds affecting my friends, my spouse, my neighbour, my child, my employer, my subordinates, my fellow citizens?
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No matter what happens, it is within my power to turn it to my advantage.
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Shall I show you the sinews of a philosopher? What sinews are those? - A will undisappointed evils avoided powers daily exercised careful resolutions unerring decisions.
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Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, and desires and the demons that distract us from these goals. Outside of our control are such things as what kind of body we have, whether or not we are born into wealth, and how we are regarded by others.
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Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own
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The cause of all human evils is the not being able to apply general principles to special cases.
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If you wish to be a writer, write.
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First tell yourself what you want to be, then do what you need to do.
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Unremarkable lives are marked by the fear of not looking capable when trying something new.
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You can be invincible, if you enter into no contest in which it is not in your power to conquer.
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Reason is not measured by size or height, but by principle.
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Any person capable of angering you becomes your master he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.
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Let thy speech of God be renewed day by day, aye, rather than thy meat and drink.
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Think of God more often than thou breathest.
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As you think, so you become.....Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and interpreting signs that aren't there.
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It’s time to stop being vague. If you wish to be an extraordinary person, if you wish to be wise, then you should explicitly identify the kind of person you aspire to become.
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Getting distracted by trifles is the easiest thing in the world… Focus on your main duty
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It is not things in themselves which trouble us, but our opinions of things.
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Not things, but opinions about things, trouble men.
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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