black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power.

Epictetus

Wisdom means understanding without any doubt that circumstances do not rise to meet our expectations. Events happen as they may. People behave as they will.
EPICTETUS

Behaviour Circumstance Expectation People Understand Wisdom
Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours.
EPICTETUS

Attention Belong Business Concern Focus True
Freedom and happiness are won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.
EPICTETUS

Believe Beyond Control Freedom Happiness Win
No matter what happens, it is within my power to turn it to my advantage.
EPICTETUS

Advantage Change Happen Inspirational Matter Power
Renew every day your conversation with God: Do this even in preference to eating. Think more often of God than you breathe.
EPICTETUS

Breathe Conservation Eat God Preference Thinking
Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.
EPICTETUS

Freedom Inspirational Live Right Satisfaction
The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.
EPICTETUS

Company Friendship Key People Presence
It is better to die of hunger having lived without grief and fear, than to live with a troubled spirit, amid abundance.
EPICTETUS

Abundance Die Fear Hunger Live Trouble
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

Aspire Extraordinary Inspirational Time Vague Wise
Whoever is going to listen to the philosophers needs a considerable practice in listening.
EPICTETUS

Consider Listen Need Philosophy Practice
Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly.
EPICTETUS

Important Philosophy Silence Speak Wisdom
The people have a right to the truth as they have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
EPICTETUS

Happiness Liberty Life People Right Truth
Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself.
EPICTETUS

Moments Patience Reaction Situation Try Yourself
What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.
EPICTETUS

Attitude Concern Human Nature People Thinking
If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.
EPICTETUS

Content Fools Improvement Stupid Want
Demand not that things happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do, and you will go on well.
EPICTETUS

Demand Happen Inspirational Satisfaction

Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Epictetus Quotes