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If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.

Epictetus

We can’t control the impressions others form about us, and the effort to do so only debases our character.
EPICTETUS

Character Control Effort Impression
By accepting life’s limits and inevitabilities and working with them rather than fighting them, we become free.
EPICTETUS

Acceptance Fight Freedom Life Limitation Work
Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.
EPICTETUS

Control Freedom Goals Life Win Worth
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
Don’t live by your own rules, but in harmony with nature.
EPICTETUS

Harmony Inspirational Live Nature Rule
Desire and happiness cannot live together.
EPICTETUS

Desire Happiness Live One Liner Togetherness
It’s so simple really: If you say you’re going to do something, do it. If you start something, finish it.
EPICTETUS

Business Finish Motivational Patience Start Success
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
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
Men are not troubled by things themselves, but by their thoughts about them.
EPICTETUS

Attitude Inspirational Men Thinking Trouble
Do not try to seem wise to others.
EPICTETUS

Inspirational Life One Liner Try Wise
Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly.
EPICTETUS

Important Philosophy Silence Speak Wisdom
Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths.
EPICTETUS

Endure Introduce Life Opportunity Resource Strength
In trying to please other people, we find ourselves misdirected toward what lies outside our sphere of influence. In doing so, we lose our hold on our lifes purpose.
EPICTETUS

Goals Influence Lie Life Please Purpose
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
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

If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.

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If you wish to be good, first believe that you are bad.

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Popular Authors

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