Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.
It is difficulties that show what men are.
- Topic: Adversity, Misfortune
- Location: Hawaii, Kula, Maui
- Photo: Jeffrey Benjamin
More Quotes from Epictetus
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 someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation.
Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes, but wish for them as they are, and you will find them.
If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval, realize that you have compromised your integrity.
More Quotes from Hawaii
More on These Topics
No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities - always see them, for they're always there.
Suppose your whole world seems to rock on its foundations. Hold on steadily, let it rock, and when the rocking is over, the picture will have reassembled itself into something much nearer to your heart's desire.
So it is more useful to watch a man in time of peril, and in adversity to discern what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn from the depths of his heart, and the mask it torn off, reality remains.
The shell must break before the bird can fly.
Too many parents make life hard for their children by trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them.
A series of failures may culminate in the best possible result.
But we cannot simply sit and stare at our wounds forever.
If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence every one must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart.
