Epictetus

"It is the mark of a cude disposition to spend most of one's time on bodily functions such as exercise, eating, drinking, defecating and copulating. These are the things to be done just incidentally. All your attention should be on your mind."

"Only the educated are free."

"“Know you not that a good man does nothing for appearance sake, but for the sake of having done right?”"

"“What really frightens and dismays us is not external events themselves, but the way in which we think about them. It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance.”"

"“Most of what passes for legitimate entertainment is inferior or foolish and only caters to or exploits people's weaknesses. Avoid being one of the mob who indulges in such pastimes. Your life is too short and you have important things to do. Be discriminating about what images and ideas you permit into your mind. If you yourself don't choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest. It is the easiest thing in the world to slide imperceptibly into vulgarity. But there's no need for that to happen if you determine not to waste your time and attention on mindless pap.”"

"“Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.”"

"“Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.”"

"“Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it.”"

"“If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.”"

"Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else."

"When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger."

"Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them."

"Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort."

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

"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."

"Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public."

"It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it."

"Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens."

"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best."

"Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen."