Epictetus

Punish your passions, so that they don’t punish you.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Α, 50

It is vulgar the fact that you sweeten your gullet with the gifts of the bees, while you turn speech, the gift of the gods, bitter with hate.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ε, 98

No one is free unless they impose control on themselves.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΣΤ, 47

The Sun does not wait for prayers to rise. Likewise, you should not wait for applause in order to become a benefactor.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΜΣΤ, 5

Never and for any reason say “I lost it”, instead of saying “I returned it”. When something is given to you, treat it as if not belonging to you, as travelers do with an inn.

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EPICTETUS

Ἐγχειρίδιο, ΙΑ

When we are invited over for dinner, we take what is set before us. If we demand from the host extras, is considered rude. Yet, we ask the gods for what they do not give although they have given us plenty!

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Δ’, 92

There is a God taking care of all and it is impossible for our actions, our intentions, and our plans to escape his attention.

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EPICTETUS

Διατριβαί 2, ΙΔ, 11

When exceeding moderation even the most delightful things become the least pleasant.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΣΤ, 60

If you were born in Persia, you wouldn’t attempt to relocate to Greece, but you would try to leave happily in Persia. If you are born poor, why do you attempt to get rich, and not stay in poverty trying to be happy?

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ε, 88

You would greatly benefit the city if you decide not to raise the buildings higher, but instead, try to upraise souls. It is preferable if large souls inhabit little houses than for mansions to be inhabited by degenerates.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΜΣΤ, 81

What is the first task of someone who practices philosophy? To get rid of arrogance. It is impossible for anyone to learn that which he thinks he already knows.

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EPICTETUS

Διατριβαί 2, ΙΖ, 1

The bird does not take pride on its nest but on the fleetness of its wings. Don’t take pride in your food or property, but be proud of your usefulness and good deeds.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ε, 91

Ιf you want to raise lions, you shouldn’t care about the cages but the wellbeing of the animals. If you want to lead citizens don’t be concerned as much about the quality of the buildings as for the bravery of those living in them.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΜΣΤ, 83

Exactly like the beacons, which produce great fire with little wood and offer assistance to the ships, so the enlightened person offers great assistance to his fellow citizens.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΜΕ, 19

Avoid repeating all of the achievements and dangers you have faced. Because, as pleasant as it is for you to recount your adventures, it is equally unpleasant for others to listen to what has happened to you.

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EPICTETUS

Ἑγχειρίδιο, ΛΓ, 14

If you want to become a good person, you must first believe that you are evil.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Α, 48

It is not poverty that brings sadness, but desire. Wealth does not remove fear, reason does. If you possess reason, neither will you desire wealth, nor will you accuse poverty.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ε, 90

In gatherings, remember that you are taking care of two things, body, and soul. What you offer to your body, you will purge immediately, while what you offer to your soul, it will remain forever.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ε, 96

Ask yourself which of the two you want. To become rich or happy? If you want to become rich, you have to understand that it is neither noble nor entirely up to you. Because wealth is a temporary loan from fortune, while happiness is the result of our personal choice.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ε, 84

The pleasures which occur rarely, give us the most delight

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΣΤ, 59

A life that is enmeshed with luck is like a torrent. It is turbulent and filled with mud. It is tyrannical, boisterous and short.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Α, 46

The soul that is associated with virtue resembles a water source with pure and clear water which is sweet, rich and beneficial.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Α, 47

It is better to confess that you are mistaken a few times and be prudent most of the time than to claim that you have made little errors, while you have made countless mistakes.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Α, 49

A fair-minded judge is neither directed by the fair nor is ruled by the unfair.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Θ, 40

You should not moor the ship with a single anchor. Similarly, you should not hang a life on a single hope.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΡΙ, 22

Curing the soul is more important than the body. It is better to die than to live badly.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΡΚΑ, 27

Avoid taking an oath if you can. It should be your last option.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΚΖ, 12

Avoid laughing much, or for a lot of things.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ε, 39

Each thing has two sides, one tolerable and one intolerable. If your brother wrongs you, do take it lightly since he is your brother. Facing it that way makes it tolerable.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Ε, 68

As the goose is not afraid of the croaks or the sheep of the bleating, similarly you shouldn’t be afraid of the foolish voices.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Μ, 85

Just like you are not intimidated by the crowd that unthinkingly demands something that belongs to you, so you shouldn’t change your mind when facing a mob that disturbs you for no reason.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Μ, 86

Don’t adorn the walls of buildings with marbles but decorate them with statesmen and citizens who possess Hellenic education. Because cities are better inhabited by the thought of the people, and not by stone and wood.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Μ, 82

When you see someone crying because something happened to him, remember that this man is not sad about what has happened. It is his thoughts about what happened that make him sad.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΡΗ, 78

It is not easy for a man to form constant perceptions on serious matters if he doesn’t discuss them on a daily basis, if he doesn’t listen to various opinions, and if he doesn’t practice them in real life.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: ΚΘ, 84

No man who admires money, pleasure and glory is a philanthropist. He is only a lover of beauty.

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EPICTETUS

Ιωάννου Στοβαίου Ανθολόγιον: Γ, 77