Action

This is all that I have to say to you; and I say even this not willingly. Why? Because you have not roused me. For what must I look to in order to be…

THAT LOGIC IS NECESSARY.—When one of those who were present said, Persuade me that logic is necessary, he replied, Do you wish me to prove this to…

Hear how the Romans feel towards philosophers, if you would like to know. Italicus, who was the most in repute of the philosophers, once when I was…

And we ought to retain these verses in such way that we may use them, not that we may utter them aloud, as when we exclaim, “Paean Apollo.” Again…

But in the other matter if we give up philosophy, what shall we gain? What then should a man say on the occasion of each painful thing? It was for…

CERTAIN MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.—As bad tragic actors cannot sing alone, but in company with many, so some persons cannot walk about alone. Man, if you…

You must root out of men these two things, arrogance (pride) and distrust. Arrogance then is the opinion that you want nothing (are deficient in…

I am superior to you, for my father is a man of consular rank. Another says, I have been a tribune, but you have not. If we were horses, would you…

ABOUT CYNICISM.—When one of his pupils inquired of Epictetus, and he was a person who appeared to be inclined to Cynicism, what kind of person a…

In the first place then you must make your ruling faculty pure, and this mode of life also. Now (you should say), to me the matter to work on is my…

Having these things (or thoughts) always in hand, and exercising them by yourself, and keeping them in readiness, you will never be in want of one to…

Learn then first what are the things which are shameful, and then tell us that you are a philosopher: but at present do not, even if any other man…

Ought you not to have gained something in addition from reason, and then to have protected this with security? And whom did you ever see building a…

ABOUT FREEDOM.—He is free who lives as he wishes to live; who is neither subject to compulsion nor to hindrance, nor to force; whose movements to…

Whether then have you nothing which is in your own power, which depends on yourself only and cannot be taken from you, or have you anything of the…

ON FAMILIAR INTIMACY.—To this matter before all you must attend, that you be never so closely connected with any of your former intimates or…

What then? would you have me to be despised?—By whom? by those who know you? and how shall those who know you despise a man who is gentle and modest?…

What then? is it possible to be free from faults (if you do all this)? It is not possible; but this is possible, to direct your efforts incessantly…

Something of this kind happens to us also generally. Now as this man has confidently intrusted his affairs to me, shall I also do so to any man…

When you are going to take in hand any act remind yourself what kind of an act it is. If you are going to bathe, place before yourself what happens…

Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things; for example, death is nothing terrible, for if it were it…

As on a voyage when the vessel has reached a port, if you go out to get water it is an amusement by the way to pick up a shellfish or some bulb,…

Never say about anything, I have lost it, but say I have restored it. Is your child dead? It has been restored. Is your wife dead? She has been…

If you would have your children and your wife and your friends to live for ever, you are silly; for you would have the things which are not in your…

Remember that in life you ought to behave as at a banquet. Suppose that something is carried round and is opposite to you. Stretch out your hand…

When you see a person weeping in sorrow either when a child goes abroad or when he is dead, or when the man has lost his property, take care that the…

Remember that thou art an actor in a play, of such a kind as the teacher (author) may choose; if short, of a short one; if long, of a long one: if he…

If you desire philosophy, prepare yourself from the beginning to be ridiculed, to expect that many will sneer at you, and say, He has all at once…

If it should ever happen to you to be turned to externals in order to please some person, you must know that you have lost your purpose in life. Be…

We may learn the wish (will) of nature from the things in which we do not differ from one another: for instance, when your neighbor’s slave has…

Duties are universally measured by relations ([Greek: tais schsesi]). Is a man a father? The precept is to take care of him, to yield to him in all…

If a man has reported to you, that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make any defence (answer) to what has been told you; but reply, The man…

It is not necessary to go to the theatres often: but if there is ever a proper occasion for going, do not show yourself as being a partisan of any…

In company take care not to speak much and excessively about your own acts or dangers; for as it is pleasant to you to make mention of your own…

If you have received the impression ([Greek: phantasion]) of any pleasure, guard yourself against being carried away by it; but let the thing wait…

When you have decided that a thing ought to be done, and are doing it, never avoid being seen doing it, though the many shall form an unfavorable…

Everything has two handles, the one by which it may be borne, the other by which it may not. If your brother acts unjustly, do not lay hold of the…

Does a man bathe quickly (early)? do not say that he bathes badly, but that he bathes quickly. Does a man drink much wine? do not say that he does…

When at a small cost you are supplied with everything for the body, do not be proud of this; nor, if you drink water, say on every occasion, I…

It is not a thing indifferent, I know, whether a man lies at ease upon a bed, or in torment upon a wheel—and yet the former may be the worse of the…

When we come once to value our flesh above our honesty we are lost: and yet I would not press upon dangers, no, not so much as upon inconveniences,…

There seems to be so near an affinity betwixt _wisdom_, _philosophy_, and _good counsels_, that it is rather matter of curiosity than of profit to…

“If there be a Providence,” say some, “how comes it to pass that good men labor under affliction and adversity, and wicked men enjoy themselves in…

Now, to sum up what is already delivered, we have showed what happiness is, and wherein it consists: that it is founded upon wisdom and virtue; for…

A rash seaman never considers what wind blows, or what course he steers, but runs at a venture, as if he would brave the rocks and the eddies;…

It is some comfort yet to the unfortunate, that great men lie under the lash for company; and that death spares the palace no more than the cottage,…

What is it that we plow the seas for; or arm ourselves against men and beasts? To what end do we toil, and labor, and pile bags upon bags? We may…

If the professors of virtue be as the world calls them, avaricious, libidinous, ambitious—what are they then that have a detestation for the very…

I came one night weary home, and threw myself upon the bed with this consideration about me: “There is nothing ill that is well taken.” My baker…

When we come to the matter of patrimony, how strictly do we examine what every man is worth before we will trust him with a penny! “Such a man,” we…

A brave man must expect to be tossed; for he is to steer his course in the teeth of Fortune, and to work against wind and weather. In the suffering…

The best conversation is with the philosophers—that is to say, with such of them as teach us matter, not words—that preach to us things necessary and…

Now, though it be by instinct that we covet society, and avoid solitude, we should yet take this along with us, that the more acquaintance the more…

Lucilius tells me, that he was written to by a friend, but cautions me withal not to say anything to him of the affair in question; for he himself…

It goes a great way toward the making of a man faithful, to let him understand that you think him so: and he that does but so much as suspect that…

The calamities of human nature may be divided into the _fear of death_, and the _miseries and errors of life_. And it is the great work of mankind to…

“But how shall I get myself at liberty? We can run any hazards for money: take any pains for honor; and why do we not venture also something for…

Liberty is the thing which they are perpetually a-wishing, and never come to obtain: a thing never to be bought nor sold, but a man must ask it of…

There are many that lie close, not that they may live securely, but that they may transgress more privately: it is their conscience, not their states…

There are some that make a boast of their retreat, which is but a kind of lazy ambition; they retire to make people talk of them, whereas I would…