Epictetus Quotes: Sources, Meanings & Themes

Discourses of Epictetus, Book II, Chapter XVIII, “How we should struggle against appearances,” George Long translation; 1877 George Bell & Sons witness on Wikisource, cross-checked against Project Gutenberg #10661. This short catalog record is an excerpt of Long’s longer clause “Generally then if you would make any thing a habit, do it”; this collection lightly normalizes “any thing” to “anything.”

Discourses of Epictetus, Book II, Chapter XVIII, “How we should struggle against appearances,” George Long translation; 1877 George Bell & Sons witness on Wikisource, cross-checked against Project Gutenberg #10661. Epictetus explains that habits and faculties are maintained by corresponding actions: “If you would be a good reader, read; if a writer, write.”

Discourses of Epictetus, Book II, Chapter XVIII, “How we should struggle against appearances,” George Long translation; 1877 George Bell & Sons witness on Wikisource, cross-checked against Project Gutenberg #10661. This collection lightly normalizes Long’s “any thing” to “anything”; this longer record contains the shorter retained habit excerpt represented by a separate legacy quote URL.

Discourses of Epictetus, Book I, Chapter XV, “What Philosophy Promises,” George Long translation; 1877 George Bell & Sons witness on Wikisource, cross-checked against Project Gutenberg #10661. Epictetus answers a request for immediate improvement with the fig/grape analogy: nothing great is produced suddenly and development requires time.

Discourses of Epictetus, Book II, Chapter I, “That confidence (courage) is not inconsistent with caution,” George Long translation; 1877 George Bell & Sons witness on Wikisource, cross-checked against Project Gutenberg #10661. Epictetus distinguishes confidence toward externals from moral caution in the use of one’s own will.

Discourses of Epictetus, Book I, Chapter XVI, “Of Providence,” George Long translation; 1877 George Bell & Sons witness on Wikisource, cross-checked against Project Gutenberg #10661. The passage is explicitly theological Stoicism: Epictetus says understanding should lead people to sing hymns, bless the deity and recount divine benefits.

Enchiridion 17; the longer passage compares human life with playing the role assigned in a drama.

Classical work; English wording varies by translation.

A concise clause from Enchiridion 8, where Epictetus contrasts demanding preferred outcomes with accepting what occurs.

Enchiridion 9; Epictetus uses illness to illustrate the distinction between external limits and the will.

Enchiridion, chapter 15; the following sentences explain waiting until things come round to you.

Enchiridion, section VIII, George Long translation; the following clause advises wishing events to be as they are.

Enchiridion 5; English wording varies by translation.

Enchiridion 5 in George Long’s translation; the passage distinguishes events from the opinions that disturb us.

Enchiridion, section 33 in George Long’s public-domain translation, Project Gutenberg #10661. The line is the suggested reply after hearing that someone has spoken ill of you; it is Stoic self-command, not an instruction to accept abuse without boundaries.

Enchiridion, section XIII, George Long translation; the advice warns against pursuing both inner discipline and external reputation.

Enchiridion, chapter 35, George Long translation; the following sentence distinguishes right action from fear of wrong criticism.

Enchiridion, section 8; Epictetus applies Stoic acceptance to events outside personal control.

Enchiridion, section X, George Long translation; Epictetus gives examples such as endurance under pain and patience under abuse.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XV, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying X, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying III, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XVII, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XXXIII, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XVI, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XX, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XXVI, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XIV, in the passage comparing life’s difficulties with enduring the Olympic festival.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying IX, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XXVII, Hastings Crossley translation.

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XXX, Hastings Crossley translation.