Quote

If anyone should tell you that a particular person has spoken critically of you, don't bother with excuses or defenses. Just smile and reply, I guess that person doesn't know about all my other faults. Otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned only these.

Epictetus

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Epictetus
Philosopher
Epictetus of Hierapolis
Tell
Defense
Critically
Doesn
Otherwise
Reply
Persons
Smile
Mentioned
Person
Guess
Excuses
Motivational
Spoken
Wouldn
Bother
Particular
Excuse
Anyone
Faults
Defenses

More quotes by Epictetus

Image
You ought to choose both physician and friend, not the most agreeable, but the most useful.
Epictetus
Image
When our friends are present we ought to treat them well and when they are absent, to speak of them well.
Epictetus
Image
On the occasion of every accident that befalls you, remember to turn to yourself and inquire what power you have for turning it to use.
Epictetus
Image
Men are not afraid of things, but of how they view them.
Epictetus
Image
Neither the victories of the Olympic Games nor those achieved in battles make the man happy. The only victories that make him happy are those achieved against himself. Temptations and tests are combats. You have beaten one, two, many times still fight. If you defeat at last you will be happy your entire life, as if you have always defeated.
Epictetus
Image
No matter where you find yourself, comport yourself as if you were a distinguished person.
Epictetus
Image
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.
Epictetus
Image
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.
Epictetus
Image
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.
Epictetus
Image
Learn to distinguish what you can and can't control. Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, desires and the things that repel us. They are directly subject to our influence.
Epictetus
Image
It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.
Epictetus
Image
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.
Epictetus
Image
What ought one to say then as each hardship comes? I was practicing for this, I was training for this.
Epictetus
Image
I am always content with what happens for I know that what God chooses is better than what I choose.
Epictetus
Image
Be free from grief not through insensibility like the irrational animals, nor through want of thought like the foolish, but like a man of virtue by having reason as the consolation of grief.
Epictetus
Image
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?
Epictetus
Image
What is a child? Ignorance. What is a child? Want of instruction.
Epictetus
Image
You have been given your own work to do. Get to it right now, do your best at it, and don't be concerned with who is watching you. Create your own merit.
Epictetus
Image
Be careful whom you associate with. It is human to imitate the habits of those with whom we interact. We inadvertently adopt their interests, their opinions, their values, and their habit of interpreting events.
Epictetus
Image
Every habit and faculty is preserved and increased by correspondent actions, as the habit of walking, by walking of running, by running.
Epictetus