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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

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Epictetus
Philosopher
Epictetus of Hierapolis
Judgment
Proceed
Advantage
Dissent
Source
Persuasion
Action
Philosophers
True
Uncertain
Thing
Philosopher
Assent
Men
Actions
Suspend
Seek
Likewise

More quotes by Epictetus

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If we are not stupid or insincere when we say that the good or ill of man lies within his own will, and that all beside is nothing to us, why are we still troubled?
Epictetus
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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.
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A thing either is what it appears to be or it is not, but yet appears to be or it is, but does not appear to be or it is not, and does not appear to be.
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No man is free who is not master of himself.
Epictetus
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Embrace reality. Think about what delights you - the small luxuries on which you depend, the people whom you cherish most. But remember that they have their own distinct character, which is quite a separate matter from how we happen to regard them.
Epictetus
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Appearances to the mind are of four kinds. Things either are what they appear to be or they neither are, nor appear to be or they are, and do not appear to be or they are not, and yet appear to be. Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man's task.
Epictetus
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In theory there is nothing to hinder our following what we are taughtbut in life there are many things to draw us aside.
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.
Epictetus
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Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.
Epictetus
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In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action, but our inward opinions and principles.
Epictetus
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When one maintains his proper attitude in life, he does not long after externals.
Epictetus
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Renew every day your conversation with God: Do this even in preference to eating. Think more often of God than you breathe.
Epictetus
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Your master is he who controls that on which you have set your heart or wish to avoid.
Epictetus
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You lose only the things you have
Epictetus
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If your heart is quite set upon a crown, make and put on one of roses, for it will make the prettier appearance.
Epictetus
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Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant.
Epictetus
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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
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It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.
Epictetus
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We should not have either a blunt knife or a freedom of speech which is ill-managed.
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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