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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

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
Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle.
EPICTETUS

Beginning Clear Freedom Happiness Principle Understand
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
Freedom and happiness are won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.
EPICTETUS

Believe Beyond Control Freedom Happiness Win
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
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
The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.
EPICTETUS

Control Expectation Inspirational Life Value
We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout.
EPICTETUS

Carry Focus Greatness Inspirational Need Seed
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
If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.
EPICTETUS

Evil Laugh Speak True Yourself
Have the wisdom to know what cannot be changed, and the strength to change what can.
EPICTETUS

Business Change Inspirational Strength Success 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
It is unrealistc to expect people to see you as you see yourself.
EPICTETUS

Deep Expectation People Reality Yourself
Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power.
EPICTETUS

Arise Control Neglect Power Suffering Try
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
I laugh at those who think they can damage me. They do not know who I am, they do not know what I think, they cannot even touch the things which are really mine and with which I live.
EPICTETUS

Attitude Damage Laugh Live Thinking
No matter what happens, it is within my power to turn it to my advantage.
EPICTETUS

Advantage Change Happen Inspirational Matter Power
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
EPICTETUS

Essense Happiness Inspirational Man Philosophy Possible
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

Concern Creation Giving Motivational Watch Work
Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.
EPICTETUS

Angry Disturb Master Permit Person Yourself
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
If you would be a reader, read; if a writer, write.
EPICTETUS

Book Poet Reading Writing
In prosperity it is very easy to find a friend; but in adversity it is the most difficult of all things.
EPICTETUS

Adversity Difficult Finding Friendship Prosperity
We should do everything both cautiously and confidently at the same time.
EPICTETUS

Believe Confidence Faith Inspirational Time
No matter where you find yourself, comport yourself as if you were a distinguished person.
EPICTETUS

Finding Healing Inspirational Person Yourself
Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.
EPICTETUS

Consist Greatness Minimalism Possession Want Wealth
To live a life of virtue, match up your thoughts, words, and deeds.
EPICTETUS

Deed Inspirational Life Live Virtue

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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