Epictetus Quotes on Philosophy (5 Quotes)

We must not believe the many, who say that only free people ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that only the educated are free.

The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.

If you set your heart upon philosophy, you must straightway prepare yourself to be laughed at and mocked by many who will say Behold a philosopher arisen among us or How came you by that brow of scorn But do you cherish no scorn, but hold to those things which seem to you the best, as one set by God in that place. Remember too, that if you abide in those ways, those who first mocked you, the same shall afterwards reverence you but if you yield to them, you will be laughed at twice as much as before.

Shall I show you the sinews of a philosopher 'What sinews are those' A will undisappointed evils avoided powers daily exercised careful resolutions unerring decisions.

We are not to give credit to the many, who say that none ought to be educated but the free; but rather to the philosophers, who say that the well-educated alone are free.