Epictetus

If you want to be rich, do not heap up riches, but diminish your desires.

What would it be like to be a sheep? To have no reason, no sense of shame, to be driven by instinct alone? It would be terrible, wouldn't it?

He who is not a good servant will not be a good master.

Imagine a dog tied to a cart. If the dog wants to follow, it follows, adding its own will to the inevitable. But if the dog refuses to follow, it will be dragged along anyway.

Small-minded people are fond of saying, 'By Zeus, I wish I were not a philosopher!'

If you want to be a great writer, write great books. If you want to be a great painter, paint great pictures. But if you want to be a great philosopher, be a great human being.

The essence of philosophy is to put up with things.

The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.

What would you rather have, a pig that grunts contentedly or a philosopher who complains?

Don't seek to have things happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do happen, and all will be well with you.

If you want to be a man of leisure, don't be a slave to your desires.

If you are praised by others, do not be puffed up; if you are blamed, do not be cast down.

When you are about to say something, ask yourself, 'Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?'

What would it be like to be a donkey? To be driven by a stick, to carry burdens, to have no choice? It would be a simple life, wouldn't it?

Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that are not within our control.

Sickness is an impediment to the body, but not to the will, unless the will itself chooses. Lameness is an impediment to the leg, but not to the will. And this you should say on every occasion: for in every accident that befalls you, you will find that it is an impediment to something else rather than to yourself.

If you are kissed by a beautiful woman, or boy, do not say, 'I am fortunate,' but 'I have been kissed by a beautiful woman.'

When you are going to meet with any person, and particularly one of those who are considered to be great, represent to yourself what Socrates or Zeno would have done in such a case, and you will not be at a loss how to make use of the opportunity.

If a man has seen a snake, and has not been bitten, but has been frightened, he is not on that account the less afraid, although he may say, 'I am not afraid.'

Do not seek to have everything that happens happen as you wish, but wish for everything to happen as it actually does happen, and your life will be serene.