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People are not disturbed by things, but by the views they take of them.

Epictetus

It is our attitude toward events, not events themselves, which we can control. Nothing is by its own nature calamitous, even death is terrible only if we fear it.
EPICTETUS

Attitude Control Death Fear Nature Terrible
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
EPICTETUS

One Liner Philosophy Reality Sustain
It is more necessary for the soul to be cured than the body; for it is better to die than to live badly.
EPICTETUS

Body Cure Die Live Necessary Soul
Books are the training weights of the mind.
EPICTETUS

Book Mind One Liner Training Weight
Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do. Hold to your true aspirations no matter what is going on around you.
EPICTETUS

Aspiration People Regard Spiritual Superior Yourself
Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle.
EPICTETUS

Beginning Clear Freedom Happiness Principle Understand
When you are offended at any man’s fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.
EPICTETUS

Angry Fault Forget Man Offend Study Yourself
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
It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.
EPICTETUS

Attitude Insult Let Go Opinion Philosophy Strike
Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.
EPICTETUS

Consist Greatness Minimalism Possession Want Wealth
The best place to get help is from yourself.
EPICTETUS

Confidence Help Inspirational One Liner Place Yourself
You become what you give your attention to. If you yourself don’t choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest.
EPICTETUS

Attention Choose Expose Giving Self Love Yourself
Circumstances don’t make the man, they only reveal him to himself.
EPICTETUS

Circumstance Deep Himself Man Mask Reveal
If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.
EPICTETUS

Content Fools Improvement Stupid Want
When we blather about trivial things, we ourselves become trivial, for our attention gets taken up with trivialities. You become what you give your attention to.
EPICTETUS

Attention Character Giving Inspirational Ourselves
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.
EPICTETUS

Happen Hustle Motivational Philosophy Power Work Hard
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
Don’t demand or expect that events happen as you would wish them do. Accept events as they actually happen. That way, peace is possible.
EPICTETUS

Acceptance Demand Expectation Happen Peace Possible
The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.
EPICTETUS

Control Expectation Inspirational Life Value
We all dread a bodily paralysis, and would make use of every contrivance to avoid it; but none of us is troubled about a paralysis of the soul.
EPICTETUS

Avoid Body Pralysis Soul Trouble
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

Alone Appearance Impression Life People Strength
Other people’s views and troubles can be contagious. Don’t sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others.
EPICTETUS

Adopt Association Attitude Negative People Trouble
You can be happy if you know this secret: Some things are within your power to control and some things are not.
EPICTETUS

Control Happiness Inspirational Life Power Secret
If you wish to live a life free from sorrow, think of what is going to happen as if it had already happened.
EPICTETUS

Freedom Inspirational Let Go Life Live Sorrow
Don’t live by your own rules, but in harmony with nature.
EPICTETUS

Harmony Inspirational Live Nature Rule
Whoever is going to listen to the philosophers needs a considerable practice in listening.
EPICTETUS

Consider Listen Need Philosophy Practice
Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can.
EPICTETUS

Business Change Inspirational Strength Success Wisdom

People are not disturbed by things, but by the views they take of them.

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People are not disturbed by things, but by the views they take of them.

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