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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
Firsts
First
Believe
Good
Goodness
Wish

More quotes by Epictetus

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If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing and if you shall seem to someone to be a person of importance, distrust yourself.
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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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If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked.
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Law intends indeed to do service to human life, but it is not able when men do not choose to accept her services for it is only in those who are obedient to her that she displays her special virtue.
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You can be happy if you know this secret: Some things are within your power to control and some things are not.
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He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.
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Difficulty shows what men are.
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When the Idea, of any Pleasure strikes your Imagination... let that time be employed in making a just Computation between, the duration of the Pleasure, and that of the Repentance sure to follow it.
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Whatever you would make habitual, practice it and if you would not make a thing habitual, do not practice it, but accustom yourself to something else.
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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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Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.
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What is death? A scary mask. Take it off-see, it doesn't bite.
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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.
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The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.
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It is not things in themselves which trouble us, but our opinions of things.
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What is it to be a philosopher? Is it not to be prepared against events?
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There is but one way to tranquility of mind and happiness, and that is to account no external things thine own, but to commit all to God.
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Getting distracted by trifles is the easiest thing in the world… Focus on your main duty
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No great thing is created suddenly.
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God has entrusted me with myself.
Epictetus