Book iv Quotes
218 quotes
"ἐκεῖνο δέ μοι εἰπέ· οὐδέποτ᾿ ἠράσθης τινός; [. . .] Οὐδέποθ᾿ ὑπὸ τῆς ἐρωμένης ἐπετάγης οὐδὲν ὧν οὐκ ἤθελες; οὐδέποτέ σου τὸ δουλάριον ἐκολάκευσας; οὐδέποτ᾿ αὐτοῦ τοὺς πόδας κατεφίλησας; καίτοι τοῦ Καίσαρος ἄν σέ τις ἀναγκάσῃ, ὕβριν αὐτὸ ἡγῇ καὶ ὑπερβολὴν τυραννίδος. τί οὖν ἄλλο ἐστὶ δουλεία;"
"τί γάρ ἐστιν, ὃ ζητεῖ πᾶς ἄνθρωπος; εὐσταθῆσαι, εὐδαιμονῆσαι, πάντα ὡς θέλει ποιεῖν, μὴ κωλύεσθαι, μὴ ἀναγκάζεσθαι."
"οὐ γὰρ ἐκπληρώσει τῶν ἐπιθυμουμένων ἐλευθερία παρασκευάζεται, ἀλλὰ ἀνασκευῇ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας."
"ὀλίγου δὲ χρεία ἐστὶ πρὸς τὴν ἀπώλειαν τὴν πάντων καὶ ἀνατροπήν, μικρᾶς ἀποστροφῆς τοῦ λόγου."
"The ruling power within, when it is in its natural state, is so related to outer circumstances that it easily changes to accord with what can be done and what is given it to do."
"Let no act be done at haphazard, nor otherwise than according to the finished rules that govern its kind."
"Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains; and thou too art wont to desire such things very much. But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself. For nowhere either with more quiet or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than into his own soul."
"The universe is flux, life is opinion."
"Think on this doctrine,—that reasoning beings were created for one another's sake; that to be patient is a branch of justice, and that men sin without intending it."
"People try to get away from it all—to the country, to the beach, to the mountains. You always wish that you could too. Which is idiotic: you can get away from it anytime you like. By going within. Nowhere you can go is more peaceful—more free of interruptions—than your own soul. (Hays translation)"
"The abyss of endless time that swallows it all. The emptiness of all those applauding hands. The people who praise us—how capricious they are, how arbitrary. And the tiny region in which it all takes place. (Hays translation)"
"Be straightforward. Look at things like a man, like a human being, like a citizen, like a mortal. (Hays translation)"
"Disturbance comes only from within—from our own perceptions. (Hays translation)"
"“The world is nothing but change. Our life is only perception.” (Hays translation)"
"If mind is common to us, then also the reason, whereby we are reasoning beings, is common. If this be so, then also the reason which enjoins what is to be done or left undone is common. If this be so, law also is common; if this be so, we are citizens; if this be so, we are partakers in one constitution; if this be so, the Universe is a kind of Commonwealth."
"Death, like generation, is a secret of Nature."
"Choose not to be harmed—and you won't feel harmed. Don't feel harmed—and you haven't been. (Hays translation)"
"That which makes the man no worse than he was makes his life no worse: it has no power to harm, without or within."
"Whatever happens at all happens as it should; you will find this true, if you watch narrowly."
"You have a mind? —Yes. Well, why not use it? (Hays translation)"
"Death hangs over thee: whilst yet thou livest, whilst thou mayest, be good."
"Many the lumps of frankincense on the same altar; one falls there early and another late, but it makes no difference."
"Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. Death overshadows you. While you're alive and able—be good. (Hays translation)"
"How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy."
"Doth perfect beauty stand in need of praise at all? Nay; no more than law, no more than truth, no more than loving kindness, nor than modesty."
"Does anything genuinely beautiful need supplementing? No more than justice does—or truth, or kindness, or humility. Are any of those improved by being praised? Or damaged by contempt? Is an emerald suddenly flawed if no one admires it? Or gold, or ivory, or purple? Lyres? Knives? Flowers? Bushes? (Hays translation)"
"All that is harmony for you, my Universe, is in harmony with me as well. Nothing that comes at the right time for you is too early or too late for me. Everything is fruit to me that your seasons bring, Nature. All things come of you, have their being in you, and return to you."
"Let your occupations be few," says the sage, "if you would lead a tranquil life."
"Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you'll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, “Is this necessary?” But we need to eliminate unnecessary assumptions as well. To eliminate the unnecessary actions that follow. (Hays translation)"
"Remember this— that there is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed in the performance of every act of life."
"You're better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve. (Hays translation)"
"Then what should we work for? Only this: proper understanding; unselfish action; truthful speech. A resolve to accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, flowing like water from that same source and spring. (Hays translation)"
"Observe always that everything is the result of a change, and get used to thinking that there is nothing Nature loves so well as to change existing forms and to make new ones like them."
"Search men's governing principles, and consider the wise, what they shun and what they cleave to."
"It needs to realize that what happens to everyone—bad and good alike—is neither good nor bad. (Hays translation)"
"Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception, the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one movement; and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things which exist; observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the contexture of the web."
"Thou art a little soul bearing about a corpse, as Epictetus used to say."
"Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away."
"All that happens is as usual and familiar as the rose in spring and the crop in summer."
"“Those who have forgotten where the road leads.” “They are at odds with what is all around them”—the all-directing logos. And “they find alien what they meet with every day.” (Hays translation)"
"Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man - yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned to thee, live rationally, and part with life cheerfully, as drops the ripe olive, extolling the season that bore it and the tree that matured it."
"Don't let yourself forget how many doctors have died, after furrowing their brows over how many deathbeds. How many astrologers, after pompous forecasts about others' ends. How many philosophers, after endless disquisitions on death and immortality. How many warriors, after inflicting thousands of casualties themselves. How many tyrants, after abusing the power of life and death atrociously, as if they were themselves immortal. (Hays translation)"
"To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it."
"It's unfortunate that this has happened. No. It's fortunate that this has happened and I've remained unharmed by it—not shattered by the present or frightened of the future. It could have happened to anyone. But not everyone could have remained unharmed by it."
"So remember this principle when something threatens to cause you pain: the thing itself was no misfortune at all; to endure it and prevail is great good fortune."
"Always take the short cut; and that is the rational one. Therefore say and do everything according to soundest reason."
"My honor is dearer to me than my life."
"Delay always breeds danger."
"In me the need to talk is a primary impulse, and I can't help saying right off what comes to my tongue."
"Think before thou speakest."
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