Epictetus (Greek: Ἐπίκτητος; ca. 55–ca. 135) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was probably born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey), and lived in Rome until his exile to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece, where he lived most of his life and died. His teachings were noted down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses. Philosophy, he taught, is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline.
- All external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control, but we can accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately.
- Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power.
- Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of one's desires, but by the removal of desire.
- Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them.
- If, therefore, any be unhappy, let him remember that he is unhappy by reason of himself alone.
- Permit nothing to cleave to you that is not your own; nothing to grow to you that may give you agony when it is torn away.
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