These teachings, revolving around the core Stoic principles of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance, provide valuable insights into understanding and navigating life's complexities.
Here, we explore some of the most impactful quotes from Epictetus's Discourses, each accompanied by a brief explanation to elucidate its relevance and application in today's world.
Top 10 Stoic Quotes from Discourses by Epictetus:
1. On Control and Acceptance:
We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.
– Epictetus
Epictetus emphasizes the importance of focusing on what we can control—our thoughts, emotions, and actions, and accepting what we cannot control. This insight is pivotal for maintaining tranquility and perspective in the face of life's inevitable challenges.
2. On Self-Mastery:
No man is free who is not master of himself.
– Epictetus
Achieving true freedom, according to Epictetus, necessitates mastering one’s own desires, emotions, and reactions. This mastery enables us to live in harmony with our true nature and the world around us.
3. On Wisdom and Ignorance:
It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he al
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5 Ways to Be Happy According to Epictetus
What does it mean to be happy? Do external situations and circumstances bring us happiness? Or is it perhaps a state of mind and the way we perceive these situations and circumstances? These were the questions asked by Epictetus, arguably one of the most important stoic philosophers to have lived and contributed to answering the question, “how can we truly be happy?”.
Who Was Epictetus?
Sometime around the period of 50CE in the Greek city of Hierapolis, Epictetus was born into slavery within a wealthy family. His Roman master Epaphroditus allowed Epictetus to study, which led him to philosophy and his soon-to-be stoic teacher, Musonius Rufus.
When Epictetus eventually gained his freedom later in life, he began teaching philosophy in Rome, becoming one the most important stoic philosophers and teachers to have ever lived. Stoicism fueled a new philosophical culture which placed human perception at the center of true knowledge, happiness and tranquility.
1. Understanding the Dichotomy of Control
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