Authors / Epictetus

Epictetus quotes

c. 50–c. 135 · Greek Stoic philosopher, born a slave

Epictetus wrote nothing himself; his student Arrian recorded the Discourses and the short handbook, the Enchiridion. His core idea — that we are disturbed by our judgments, not by events — still drives modern cognitive therapy.

4 real · 1 not theirs

Really theirs

4 quotes traced to Epictetus's own work or a reliable witness.

Sourced
Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things.
Source: Enchiridion 5, tr. George Long
Sourced
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
Source: Discourses III.23, tr. George Long
Sourced
If you would improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.
Source: Enchiridion 13
Attributed
No man is free who is not master of himself.
Source: Fragments, preserved by Stobaeus

Not theirs

1 famous lines credited to Epictetus that are misquoted, unsourced or belong to someone else.

Not theirs
Do not write so that you can be understood, write so that you cannot be misunderstood.

Actually: The Roman rhetorician Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria 8.2.24 — about speakers, not writers.