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Abstinence
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All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
-Epictetus
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Adversity
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To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete.
-Epictetus
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Alcohol/Alcoholism
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He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.
-Epictetus
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Anger
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Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit.
-Epictetus
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Attitude
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It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
-Epictetus
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Belief
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Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.
-Epictetus
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Children
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Who is not attracted by bright and pleasant children, to prattle, to creep, and to play with them?
-Epictetus
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Choice
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It is your own convictions which compels you; that is, choice compels choice.
-Epictetus
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Remember that you are an actor in a drama of such sort as the Author chooses: if short, then in a short one; if long, then in a long one. If it be His pleasure that you should enact a poor man, or a cripple, or a ruler, or a private citizen, see that you act it well. For this is your business, to act well the given part. But to choose it belongs to Another.
-Epictetus, Enchiridion 17
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Cowardice/Weakness
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Covetousness like jealousy, when it has taken root, never leaves a person, but with their life. Cowardice is the dread of what will happen.
-Epictetus
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Criticism
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If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.
-Epictetus
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Death
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Let death be daily before your eyes, and you will never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.
-Epictetus
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Deception/Lying
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Liars are the cause of all the sins and crimes in the world.
-Epictetus
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Difficulty
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Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.
-Epictetus
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Difficulties show men what they are. In case of any difficulty, God has pitted you against a rough antagonist that you may be a conqueror, and this cannot be without toil.
-Epictetus
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Discipline
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Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.
-Epictetus
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Education
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Only the educated are free.
-Epictetus
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Ego
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What will the world be quite overturned when you die?
-Epictetus
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Fate & Destiny
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A strict belief, fate is the worst kind of slavery; on the other hand there is comfort in the thought that God will be moved by our prayers.
-Epictetus
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Remember that you are an actor in a drama, of such a part as it may please the master to assign you, for a long time or for a little as he may choose. And if he will you to take the part of a poor man, or a cripple, or a ruler, or a private citizen, then may you act that part with grace! For to act well the part that is allotted to us, that indeed is ours to do, but to choose it is another's.
-Epictetus
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Fear
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For it is not death or hardship that is a fearful thing, but the fear of death and hardship.
-Epictetus
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Freedom
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No man is free who is not a master of himself.
-Epictetus
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Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.
-Epictetus
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Freedom is the right to live as we wish.
-Epictetus
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God
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God hath entrusted me with myself.
-Epictetus
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Books by and about Epictetus