Epictetus
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"Epictetus" was a Ancient Greece/Greek Stoicism/Stoic Philosophy/philosopher. He was born a Slavery in ancient Greece/slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey), and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in north-western Greece for the rest of his life. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses of Epictetus/Discourses.

Epictetus taught that philosophy is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline. To Epictetus, all external events are determined by Destiny/fate, and are thus beyond our control; we should accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. However, individuals are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline.

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It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.

No man is free who is not master of himself.

We have two ears and one mouth so we may listen more and talk the less.

Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.

What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.

If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself: 'I used to be angry every day; then every other day; now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods.

Only the educated are free.

When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing?

If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase.

Difficulties show men what they are. In case of any difficulty remember that God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil.

A wise man is he who does not grieve for the thing which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

All religions must be tolerated... for... every man must get to heaven in his own way.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

Control thy passions, lest they take vengeance on thee.

What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are.

It is the action of an uninstructed person to reproach others for his own misfortune; of one entering instruction, to reproach himself; and one perfectly instructed, to reproach neither others nor himself.

Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you, and be silent.

Seek not good from without: seek it from within yourselves, or you will never find it.

Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.

If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.

If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say: "He obviously does not know me very well, since there are so many other faults he could have mentioned".

God has entrusted me with myself.

The good or ill of a man lies within his own will.

First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.

Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.

There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.

The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forebearing.