You may fetter my leg, but Zeus himself cannot get the better of my free will.
Whoever is going to listen to the philosophers needs a considerable practice in listening.
It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it.
It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgements concerning them.
Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of men's desires, but by the removal of desire.
For if we had any sense, what else should we do, both in public and in private, than sing hymns and praise the deity, and recount all the favours that he has conferred!
Ruin and recovery are both from within.
Very little is needed for everything to be upset and ruined, only a slight lapse in reason.
What you shun enduring yourself, attempt not to impose on others. You shun slavery- beware enslaving others! If you can endure to do that, one would think you had been once upon a time a slave yoursel...
You only have to doze a moment, and all is lost. For ruin and salvation both have their source inside you.
I must die. Must I then die lamenting? I must be put in chains. Must I then also lament? I must go into exile. Does any man then hinder me from going with smiles and cheerfulness and contentment?
Freedom is the right to live as we wish.
The condition and characteristic of an uninstructed person is this: he never expects from himself profit (advantage) nor harm, but from externals. The condition and characteristic of a philosopher is...
If any be unhappy, let him remember that he is unhappy by reason of himself alone. For God hath made all men to enjoy felicity and constancy of good.
Concerning the Gods, there are those who deny the very existence of the Godhead; others say that it exists, but neither bestirs nor concerns itself not has forethought far anything. A third party attr...
When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.
Who, then, is the invincible human being? One who can be disconcerted by nothing that lies outside the sphere of choice.
Do you know that disease and death must needs overtake us no matter what we are doing? ... What do you wish to be doing when it overtakes you?... If you have anything better to be doing when you are...
Bear and forbear.
No great thing is created suddenly any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom then bear fruit then ri...