“It is unlikely that the good of a snail should reside in its shell: so is it likely that the good of a man should?”

— Epictetus, Discourses, Book I, 20.17

About Epictetus

50 – 135

Greek Stoic philosopher born into slavery who became one of antiquity's most influential thinkers. His teachings, recorded by his student Arrian, emphasize personal freedom through mastery of one's own mind.

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“Man is disturbed not by things, but by the opinions he has of things.”

— Epictetus

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

— Epictetus

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”

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“That which makes the man no worse than he was makes his life no worse: it has no power to harm, without or within.”

— Marcus Aurelius

“Always take the short cut; and that is the rational one. Therefore say and do everything according to soundest reason.”

— Marcus Aurelius

“To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.”

— Marcus Aurelius

“Many the lumps of frankincense on the same altar; one falls there early and another late, but it makes no difference.”

— Marcus Aurelius

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”

— Marcus Aurelius

“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”

— Seneca

“It is unlikely that the good of a snail should reside in its shell: so is it likely that the good of a man should?”

About Epictetus

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