Appearances to the mind are of four kinds. Things either are what they appear to be; or they neither are, nor appear to be; or they are, and do not appear to be; or they are not, and yet appear to be. Rightly to aim in all these cases is the wise man’s task.
If you wish to be a writer, write.
- Topic: Action
- Photo: Jeffrey Benjamin
More Quotes from Epictetus
Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours.
Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.
If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation.
Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.
Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at a banquet. As something is being passed around it comes to you; stretch out your hand, take a portion of it politely. It passes on; do not detain it. Or it has not come to you yet; do not project your desire to meet it, but wait until it comes in front of you. So act toward children, so act toward a wife, so toward office, so toward wealth.
Be not swept off your feet by the vividness of the impression, but say, “Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what you are and what you represent. Let me try you.”
More on Action
You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.
A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.
The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way.
You don’t have to depend on any material possessions, they depend on you, you create them, you own the one and only tool of production.
