Epictetus quotes and books

Here you can find the best quotes from Epictetus grouped by book.

Enchiridion quotes

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

These reasonings do not cohere: I am richer than you, therefore I am better than you; I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am better than you. On the contrary these rather cohere, I am richer than you, therefore my possessions are greater than yours: I am more eloquent than you, therefore my speech is superior to yours. But you are neither possession nor speech.

Remember that you must behave as at a banquet. Is anything brought round to you? Put out your hand, and take a moderate share. Does it pass you? Do not stop it. Is it not come yet? Do not yearn in desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you.

Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well.

Disease is an impediment to the body, but not to the will

for your part, do not desire to be a general, or a senator, or a consul, but to be free; and the only way to this is a disregard of things which lie not within our own power