Epictetus

The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.

If you wish to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid with regard to external things. Don't wish to be thought to know anything; and if you are thought to be somebody by others, distrust yourself.

If you are struck by the appearance of any pleasure, guard yourself against being carried away by it; but let the thing wait for you, and allow yourself a short delay. Then think of two times: a time when you will enjoy the pleasure, and a time after you have enjoyed it, and repent and reproach yourself.

When you are going to meet with any person, and particularly one of those who are considered to be in a superior condition, represent to yourself what Socrates or Zeno would have done in such circumstances, and you will have no difficulty in making a proper use of the occasion.

If a man has a bad smell, he is not to blame for it, but his clothes. If a man is ill, he is not to blame for it, but his body. If a man is a fool, he is not to blame for it, but his mind.

If you want to be a man of honour, you must be a man of honour. If you want to be a good man, you must be a good man. If you want to be a wise man, you must be a wise man. If you want to be a fool, you must be a fool.

Never say about anything, 'I have lost it,' but only 'I have given it back.' Is your child dead? It is given back. Is your wife dead? She is given back. Is your estate taken from you? Is not this also given back?

As a mark is not set up for the purpose of missing the aim, so neither does the nature of evil exist in the universe.

When you have done good and received good, why do you look for any other reward?

If a man should be in a passion and curse you, go away and say, 'This man is angry with me.' Do not say, 'He has cursed me.' For that is to add to the injury.

If a man is unhappy, this must be due to his own fault, that he does not understand that it is in his power to be happy.

No man is free who is not master of himself.

Don't demand that things happen as you wish, but wish that they happen as they do happen, and you will go on well.

Some things are in our control and others are not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.

If you are praised, consider yourself a donkey. If you are blamed, consider yourself a donkey.

What, then, is the proper thing to do? To make the best of what is in our power, and take the rest as it naturally happens.

If you have assumed a character beyond your strength, you have both dishonored yourself in that, and neglected what you might have done.

It is better to starve to death in freedom from grief and fear, than to live in plenty with perturbation.

Consider at what price you sell your integrity; but do not sell it for a small price.

What is the result of all this? To be free, serene, and happy.