When you are offended at any man’s fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
(Attributed)
Quotations by:
Epictetus
You are a little soul carrying around a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.
[Ψυχάριον εἶ βαστάζον νεκρόν, ὡς Ἐπίκτητος ἔλεγεν.]
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
Discourses, Fragment 26 (Schenkl) (AD 108) [tr. Gill (2013)]
(Source)
The sole source for this fragment is Marcus Aurelius, Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 4, ch. 41 (4.41) (AD 161-180). The parallel translations here are from translators of both Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus.
(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:What art thou, that better and divine part excepted, but as Epictetus said well, a wretched soul, appointed to carry a carcass up and down?
[tr. Casaubon (1634), 4.33]Would you know what you are? Epictetus will tell you that you are a Living Soul, that drags a Carcass about with her.
[tr. Collier (1701)]“Thou art a poor spirit, carrying a dead carcase about with thee,” says Epictetus.
[tr. Hutcheson/Moor (1742)]As to your own being, "It is a living soul, that bears about with it a lifeless carcass," as Epictetus expresses it.
[tr. Graves (1792), 4.33]Thou art a little soul bearing about a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.
[tr. Long (1862)]You are a little soul carrying a dead body, as Epictetus said.
[tr. Long (1890), frag. 176]Epictetus will tell you that you are a living soul, that drags a corpse about with her.
[tr. Collier/Zimmern (1887)]What am I? "A poor soul, laden with a corpse" -- said Epictetus.
[tr. Rendall (1898)]“Thou art a poor soul, saddled with a corpse,” said Epictetus.
[tr. Hutcheson/Chrystal (1902)]You are a little soul, carrying a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.
[tr. Matheson (1916)]Thou art a little soul bearing up a corpse, as Epictetus said.
[tr. Haines (Loeb) (1916)]You are a little soul, carrying around a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.
[tr. Oldfather (Loeb) (1928)]You are a spirit bearing the weight of a dead body, as Epictetus used to say.
[tr. Farquharson (1944)]"A poor soul burdened with a corpse," Epictetus calls you.
[tr. Staniforth (1964)]"You are a little soul carrying a corpse around," as Epictetus used to say.
[tr. Hard (1997 ed.)]“A little wisp of soul carrying a corpse.” -- Epictetus.
[tr. Hays (2003)]You are a soul carrying a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.
[tr. Hammond (2006)]You are a bit of soul carrying around a dead body, as Epictetus used to say.
[tr. Dobbin (2008)]You are a little soul carrying a corpse around, as Epictetus used to say.
[tr. Hard (2011; 2014)]You're a pathetic little soul sustaining a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.
[tr. Waterfield (2012)]
If a man has reported to you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make any defense to what has been told you: but reply, The man did not know the rest of my faults, for he would not have mentioned these only.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
Enchiridion, 33 (c. AD 135) [tr. Long (1888)]
(Source)
Alt. trans.: "If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you, but answer, 'He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would have not mentioned these alone.'" [tr. Higginson (1948)]
Appearances to the mind are of four kinds. Things either are what they appear to be; or they neither are, nor appear to be; or they are, and do not appear to be; or they are not, and yet appear to be. Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man’s task.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
The Discourses (c. AD 101-108)
Make the best of what is in our power, and take the rest as it naturally happens.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
The Discourses, 1.1
Difficulties are things that show what men are.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
The Discourses, Book 1, ch. 24
What is the first business of one who studies philosophy? To part with self-conceit. For it is impossible for any one to begin to learn what he thinks that he already knows.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
The Discourses, ch. 17, “How To Apply General Principles to Particular Cases” (c. AD 101-108)
Alt. trans.: "It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows." [tr. Long (1890)]
If you would not be of an angry temper, then, do not feed the habit. Give it nothing to help it increase. Be quiet at first and reckon the days in which you have not been angry. I used to be angry every day; now every other day; then every third and fourth day; and if you miss it so long as thirty days, offer a of Thanksgiving to God. For habit is first weakened and then entirely destroyed.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
The Discourses, ch. 18 (c. AD 101-108)
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
The Discourses, ch. 23, “Concerning Such as Read and Dispute Ostentatiously” (c. AD 101-108)
Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
The Enchiridion (c. 135)
Alt. trans.: "We suffer not from the events in our lives, but from our judgment about them."
These reasonings are unconnected: “I am richer than you, therefore I am better”; “I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am better.” The connection is rather this: “I am richer than you, therefore my property is greater than yours;” “I am more eloquent than you, therefore my style is better than yours.” But you, after all, are neither property nor style.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
The Enchiridion (c. 135)
Choose the best life; for habit will make it pleasant.
Epictetus (c. 55-c. 135 AD) Greek (Phrygian) Stoic philosopher [Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos]
Fragment 144
Sometimes attributed to Francis Bacon.