Don't wish it went your way. Want it the way it goes, and flow.
Epictetus, Enchiridion 8
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Epictetus
c. 50–135 AD. Born enslaved, became the most influential Stoic teacher of his age. His student Arrian wrote down the Discourses and the Enchiridion.
On a shirt
Everything has two handles. Grab the one you can carry.
Epictetus, Enchiridion 43
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I'll never be Milo. I still train.
Epictetus, Discourses 1.2.37
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Every line we've sourced
Some things are yours. Some aren't. Sort them first.
"Of things some are in our power, and others are not"
Enchiridion 1, George Long, 1877
To every scary thought: you're an appearance, not the real thing.
"practise saying to every harsh appearance, You are an appearance, and in no manner what you appear to be"
Enchiridion 1, George Long, 1877
Things don't upset people. Their opinions about things do.
"Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things"
Enchiridion 5, George Long, 1877
Rookies blame others. Learners blame themselves. Masters blame no one.
"It is the act of an ill-instructed man to blame others ... of one who has begun to be instructed, to lay the blame on himself; and of one whose instruction is completed, neither to blame another, nor himself"
Enchiridion 5, George Long, 1877
Don't wish it went your way. Want it the way it goes, and flow.
"wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life"
Enchiridion 8, George Long, 1877
Never say "I lost it." Say "I gave it back."
"Never say about anything, I have lost it, but say I have restored it"
Enchiridion 11, George Long, 1877
You don't pick the role. You play it well.
"this is your duty, to act well the part that is given to you; but to select the part, belongs to another"
Enchiridion 17, George Long, 1877
Only enter contests you control, and you're invincible.
"You can be invincible, if you enter into no contest in which it is not in your power to conquer"
Enchiridion 19, George Long, 1877
No one insults you. Your opinion of it does.
"it is not he who reviles you or strikes you, who insults you, but it is your opinion about these things as being insulting"
Enchiridion 20, George Long, 1877
Buy yourself a beat before you react.
"if you once gain time and delay, you will more easily master yourself"
Enchiridion 20, George Long, 1877
Choose the hard road and expect to be laughed at. Hold on anyway.
"prepare yourself from the beginning to be ridiculed ... hold on to the things which seem to you best"
Enchiridion 22, George Long, 1877
Want the win? Count the sweat, the dust and the losses. Then commit.
"A man wishes to conquer at the Olympic games ... observe both the things which come first, and the things which follow; and then begin the act"
Enchiridion 29, George Long, 1877
Talk less. Say only what's needed.
"let silence be the general rule, or let only what is necessary be said, and in few words"
Enchiridion 33, George Long, 1877
They criticized me? They clearly don't know my other faults.
"The man did not know the rest of my faults, for he would not have mentioned these only"
Enchiridion 33, George Long, 1877
If it's right, do it in plain sight.
"if it is right, why are you afraid of those who shall find fault wrongly?"
Enchiridion 35, George Long, 1877
Watch your mind like you watch your step.
"In walking about as you take care not to step on a nail or to sprain your foot, so take care not to damage your own ruling faculty"
Enchiridion 38, George Long, 1877
Everything has two handles. Grab the one you can carry.
"Everything has two handles, the one by which it may be borne, the other by which it may not"
Enchiridion 43, George Long, 1877
You are not your money. You are not your talk.
"But you are neither possession nor speech"
Enchiridion 44, George Long, 1877
Sheep don't show off the grass. They grow the wool.
"even sheep do not vomit up their grass and show to the shepherds how much they have eaten; but when they have internally digested the pasture, they produce externally wool and milk"
Enchiridion 46, George Long, 1877
Don't lecture on how to eat. Eat well.
"at a banquet do not say how a man ought to eat, but eat as you ought to eat"
Enchiridion 46, George Long, 1877
Train for yourself, not for the audience.
"if you ever wish to exercise yourself in labour and endurance, do it for yourself, and not for others"
Enchiridion 47, George Long, 1877
Now is the contest. The Games can't be postponed.
"remember that now is the contest, now are the Olympic games, and they cannot be deferred"
Enchiridion 51, George Long, 1877
Not Socrates yet? Live like someone who wants to be.
"though you are not yet a Socrates, ought to live as one who wishes to be a Socrates"
Enchiridion 51, George Long, 1877
Nothing great happens overnight. Even a fig takes its time.
"Nothing great, said Epictetus, is produced suddenly, since not even the grape or the fig is"
Discourses 1.15, George Long, 1877
Hard times show who you are.
"It is circumstances (difficulties) which show what men are"
Discourses 1.24, George Long, 1877
Rough opponent? Your coach picked him on purpose.
"God, like a trainer of wrestlers, has matched you with a rough young man ... that you may become an Olympic conqueror"
Discourses 1.24, George Long, 1877
Be the purple thread.
"I wish to be purple, that small part which is bright, and makes all the rest appear graceful and beautiful"
Discourses 1.2, George Long, 1877
Chain my leg. My will stays free.
"You may fetter my leg, but my will not even Zeus himself can overpower"
Discourses 1.1, George Long, 1877
I have to die. Do I have to whine about it?
"I must die. Must I then die lamenting?"
Discourses 1.1, George Long, 1877
Trial underway in the Senate? It's workout time.
"it is the fifth hour of the day ... let us go and take our exercise"
Discourses 1.1 (Agrippinus), George Long, 1877
Want to be a reader? Read. A writer? Write.
"Every habit and faculty is maintained and increased by the corresponding actions ... If you would be a good reader, read; if a writer, write"
Discourses 2.18, George Long, 1877
Every outburst is anger practice.
"when you have been angry ... you have also increased the habit, and in a manner thrown fuel upon fire"
Discourses 2.18, George Long, 1877
You can't learn what you think you already know.
"it is impossible for a man to begin to learn that which he thinks that he knows"
Discourses 2.17, George Long, 1877
First decide who you want to be. Then do what that takes.
"First say to yourself who you wish to be, then do accordingly what you are doing"
Discourses 3.23, George Long, 1877
Nose running? You've got hands. Wipe it.
"how much better it is to wipe your nose than to find fault"
Discourses 1.6, George Long, 1877
Endure. Refrain.
"Verba duo haec dicebat: anechou kai apechou"
Fragment 179 (Gellius 17.19), our translation from the Greek
A good soul is a spring that never runs dry.
"A soul which is conversant with virtue is like an ever flowing source, for it is pure and tranquil and potable"
Fragment 2, George Long, 1877
Don't moor your life to one small anchor or one small hope.
"Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope"
Fragment 89, George Long, 1877
Good sailing takes a pilot and wind. Good living takes reason and practice.
"For making a good voyage a pilot and wind are necessary: and for happiness reason and art"
Fragment 166, George Long, 1877
Once you're through the storm, the sea looks good from shore.
"As it is pleasant to see the sea from the land, so it is pleasant for him who has escaped from troubles to think of them"
Fragment 121, George Long, 1877
Not your own master? Not free.
"No man is free who is not master of himself"
Fragment 114, George Long, 1877
Contentment is a fortress no one takes.
"Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress"
Fragment 138, George Long, 1877
Want to get back at an enemy? Live the best life you can.
"Epictetus being asked how a man should give pain to his enemy answered, By preparing himself to live the best life that he can"
Fragment 130, George Long, 1877
Who's rich? Whoever has enough.
"Epictetus being asked, What man is rich, answered, He who is content"
Fragment 172, George Long, 1877
The sun doesn't wait for applause to rise.
"As the sun does not wait for prayers and incantations to be induced to rise ... so do you also not wait for clappings of hands"
Fragment 88, George Long, 1877
The trained fall too. They just get up faster.
"Those who have been instructed, like those who have been trained in the palaestra, though they may have fallen, rise again from their misfortune quickly and skilfully"
Fragment 161, George Long, 1877
A goose isn't scared by cackling. Don't be scared by the crowd.
"As a goose is not frightened by cackling nor a sheep by bleating, so let not the clamour of a senseless multitude alarm you"
Fragment 85, George Long, 1877
The best: calm inside, fighting hardest outside.
"Whoever are least disturbed in mind by calamities, and in act struggle most against them, these are the best men"
Fragment 160, George Long, 1877
Wealth is a loan. Happiness is a choice.
"the one is a temporary loan of fortune, and happiness comes from the will"
Fragment 19, George Long, 1877
Sickness stops the body. Not the will.
"νόσος σώματός ἐστιν ἐμπόδιον, προαιρέσεως δὲ οὔ, ἐὰν μὴ αὐτὴ θέλῃ."
Enchiridion 9, our translation from the Greek
Better to die hungry and calm than live rich and rattled.
"κρεῖσσον γὰρ λιμῷ ἀποθανεῖν ἄλυπον καὶ ἄφοβον γενόμενον ἢ ζῆν ἐν ἀφθόνοις ταρασσόμενον."
Enchiridion 12, our translation from the Greek
Spilled oil? Stolen wine? That's the price of calm. Nothing's free.
"ἐκχεῖται τὸ ἐλάδιον, κλέπτεται τὸ οἰνάριον· ἐπίλεγε ὅτι τοσούτου πωλεῖται ἀπάθεια, τοσούτου ἀταραξία· προῖκα δὲ οὐδὲν περιγίνεται."
Enchiridion 12, our translation from the Greek
Want to improve? Be willing to look foolish.
"εἰ προκόψαι θέλεις, ὑπόμεινον ἕνεκα τῶν ἐκτὸς ἀνόητος δόξας καὶ ἠλίθιος"
Enchiridion 13, our translation from the Greek
Want freedom? Want nothing that others control.
"ὅστις οὖν ἐλεύθερος εἶναι βούλεται, μήτε θελέτω τι μήτε φευγέτω τι τῶν ἐπʼ ἄλλοις· εἰ δὲ μή, δουλεύειν ἀνάγκη."
Enchiridion 14, our translation from the Greek
The dish reaches you? Take a fair share. It passes? Let it go.
"περιφερόμενον γέγονέ τι κατὰ σέ· ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα κοσμίως μετάλαβε. παρέρχεται· μὴ κάτεχε."
Enchiridion 15, our translation from the Greek
Keep death in view daily, and you'll never think small.
"θάνατος καὶ φυγὴ καὶ πάντα τὰ δεινὰ φαινόμενα πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν ἔστω σοι καθʼ ἡμέραν ... καὶ οὐδὲν οὐδέποτε οὔτε ταπεινὸν ἐνθυμηθήσῃ"
Enchiridion 21, our translation from the Greek
Bend to please someone and you've lost your footing.
"ἐάν ποτέ σοι γένηται ἔξω στραφῆναι πρὸς τὸ βούλεσθαι ἀρέσαι τινί, ἴσθι ὅτι ἀπώλεσας τὴν ἔνστασιν."
Enchiridion 23, our translation from the Greek
Nobody hands your body to strangers. Why hand them your mind?
"εἰ μὲν τὸ σῶμά σού τις ἐπέτρεπε τῷ ἀπαντήσαντι, ἠγανάκτεις ἄν· ὅτι δὲ σὺ τὴν γνώμην τὴν σεαυτοῦ ἐπιτρέπεις τῷ τυχόντι"
Enchiridion 28, our translation from the Greek
Watch yourself like an enemy lying in ambush.
"ὡς ἐχθρὸν ἑαυτὸν παραφυλάσσει καὶ ἐπίβουλον."
Enchiridion 48, our translation from the Greek
Pain? Find endurance. Insults? Find patience.
"ἐὰν πόνος προσφέρηται, εὑρήσεις καρτερίαν· ἂν λοιδορία, εὑρήσεις ἀνεξικακίαν."
Enchiridion 10, our translation from the Greek
I don't stand in my own way.
"ἐγὼ ἐμαυτῷ ἐμπόδιος οὐ γίνομαι."
Discourses 1.1.28 (Agrippinus), our translation from the Greek
If now, I die. If later, I'll have lunch first.
"εἰ ἤδη, ἀποθνῄσκω· κἂν μετʼ ὀλίγον, νῦν ἀριστῶ τῆς ὥρας ἐλθούσης, εἶτα τότε τεθνήξομαι."
Discourses 1.1.32, our translation from the Greek
Some offers aren't worth weighing.
"πυθομένου δʼ αὐτοῦ διὰ τί σὺ οὐ καταβαίνεις; ἔφη ὅτι ἐγὼ οὐδὲ βουλεύομαι."
Discourses 1.2.13 (Agrippinus), our translation from the Greek
Shave or lose your head? Then take the head.
"ἂν ὦ φιλόσοφος, λέγω οὐ διαξυρῶμαι. ἀλλʼ ἀφελῶ σου τὸν τράχηλον. εἰ σοὶ ἄμεινον, ἄφελε."
Discourses 1.2.29, our translation from the Greek
Whatever you do, don't sell your will cheap.
"μόνον σκέψαι, πόσου πωλεῖς τὴν σεαυτοῦ προαίρεσιν. ἄνθρωπε, εἰ μηδὲν ἄλλο, μὴ ὀλίγου αὐτὴν πωλήσῃς."
Discourses 1.2.33, our translation from the Greek
I'll never be Milo. I still train.
"οὐδὲ γὰρ Μίλων ἔσομαι καὶ ὅμως οὐκ ἀμελῶ τοῦ σώματος"
Discourses 1.2.37, our translation from the Greek
Who's unbeatable? The one nothing outside can shake.
"τίς οὖν ὁ ἀήττητος; ὃν οὐκ ἐξίστησιν οὐδὲν τῶν ἀπροαιρέτων."
Discourses 1.18.21, our translation from the Greek
He took my lamp and paid with his character.
"ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνος τοσούτου ὠνήσατο λύχνον· ἀντὶ λύχνου κλέπτης ἐγένετο, ἀντὶ λύχνου ἄπιστος"
Discourses 1.29.21, our translation from the Greek
Pain is a scary mask. Turn it around and look.
"πόνος τί ἐστιν; μορμολύκειον. στρέψον αὐτὸ καὶ κατάμαθε."
Discourses 2.1.19, our translation from the Greek
The material doesn't matter. What you do with it does.
"αἱ ὗλαι ἀδιάφοροι, ἡ δὲ χρῆσις αὐτῶν οὐκ ἀδιάφορος."
Discourses 2.5.1, our translation from the Greek
The ball means nothing. The throw and the catch mean everything.
"οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν διαφέρεται περὶ τοῦ ἁρπαστοῦ ὡς περὶ ἀγαθοῦ ἢ κακοῦ, περὶ δὲ τοῦ βάλλειν καὶ δέχεσθαι."
Discourses 2.5.15, our translation from the Greek
Wisdom starts with admitting your weakness.
"ἀρχὴ φιλοσοφίας ... συναίσθησις τῆς αὑτοῦ ἀσθενείας"
Discourses 2.11.1, our translation from the Greek
Show me someone sick and happy, exiled and happy. Show me a Stoic.
"δείξατέ μοί τινα νοσοῦντα καὶ εὐτυχοῦντα ... πεφυγαδευμένον καὶ εὐτυχοῦντα ... ἐπιθυμῶ τινα νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἰδεῖν Στωικόν."
Discourses 2.19.24, our translation from the Greek
You're not your skin or your hair. You're your choices. Make them beautiful.
"ὅτι οὐκ εἶ κρέας οὐδὲ τρίχες, ἀλλὰ προαίρεσις· ... ταύτην ἂν σχῇς καλήν, τότʼ ἔστι καλός."
Discourses 3.1.39-40, our translation from the Greek
Even a fever can be done well.
"ἂν καλῶς πυρέξῃς, ἔχεις τὰ τοῦ πυρέσσοντος."
Discourses 3.10.12, our translation from the Greek
The one who insults me is my sparring partner.
"καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ λοιδοροῦντος; — τί δʼ ὠφελεῖ τὸν ἀθλητὴν ὁ προσγυμναζόμενος; τὰ μέγιστα. καὶ οὗτος ἐμοῦ προγυμναστὴς γίνεται"
Discourses 3.20.9, our translation from the Greek
Philosophy is a clinic. Leave sore, not entertained.
"ἰατρεῖόν ἐστιν, ἄνδρες, τὸ τοῦ φιλοσόφου σχολεῖον· οὐ δεῖ ἡσθέντας ἐξελθεῖν, ἀλλʼ ἀλγήσαντας."
Discourses 3.23.30, our translation from the Greek
You weren't made to share misery. You were made to share joy.
"οὐ γὰρ συνταπεινοῦσθαι πέφυκας οὐδὲ συνατυχεῖν, ἀλλὰ συνευτυχεῖν."
Discourses 3.24.1, our translation from the Greek
Freedom isn't getting what you want. It's not needing it.
"οὐ γὰρ ἐκπληρώσει τῶν ἐπιθυμουμένων ἐλευθερία παρασκευάζεται, ἀλλὰ ἀνασκευῇ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας."
Discourses 4.1.175, our translation from the Greek
Alone, the singer is calm. On stage, he wants applause.
"ὁ κιθαρῳδὸς μόνος μὲν ᾁδων οὐκ ἀγωνιᾷ, εἰς θέατρον δʼ εἰσερχόμενος ... οὐ γὰρ ᾆσαι μόνον θέλει καλῶς, ἀλλὰ καὶ εὐδοκιμῆσαι"
Discourses 2.13.2, our translation from the Greek
You're a little soul carrying a corpse.
"Ψυχάριον εἶ βαστάζον νεκρόν, ὡς Ἐπίκτητος ἔλεγεν."
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.41, our translation from the Greek
No thief can steal your will.
"Λῃστὴς προαιρέσεως οὐ γίνεται· τὸ τοῦ Ἐπικτήτου."
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.36, our translation from the Greek
The contest isn't over trifles. It's over keeping your sanity.
"Οὐ περὶ τοῦ τυχόντος οὖν, ἔφη, ἐστὶν ὁ ἀγών, ἀλλὰ περὶ τοῦ μαίνεσθαι ἢ μή."
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.38, our translation from the Greek