LIFE CHANGING QUOTES

If someone speaks poorly of you, do not defend yourself against the accusations. Instead, reply that the person must not be aware of your other shortcomings. Education leads to freedom. The way you react to situations is more important than the situation itself. Listen twice as much as you speak, as we have two ears and one mouth. True wealth is having few desires, not possessing many things. People are disturbed by their perception of things, not the things themselves. Determine who you want to be and act accordingly. True happiness comes from not worrying about things beyond your control. If you want to improve, accept the possibility of looking foolish. Only those who have mastered themselves are truly free. Finally, a wise person does not lament.

Man should rejoice in what he has, rather than fret over what he lacks. He is plagued not by real problems, but by imaginary worries about those problems. The sole path to happiness lies in relinquishing concern for things beyond our control. One should surround oneself solely with those who inspire and motivate them, rather than those who propagate negativity. How one reacts to a situation is more consequential than the situation itself. Self-deprecation provides a wellspring of humor. It is easy to contract negative attitudes from others, so one should be cautious in choosing companions. The pursuit of absolute freedom is the only laudable aim in life, achieved by ignoring uncontrollable variables. Circumstances merely uncover an individual's true nature. The erroneous belief that one already knows everything makes learning impossible.

People are not disturbed by things, but by the perspective they hold on them. Accusing others for one's own misfortune is a sign of lack of education. Accusing oneself indicates that one's education has started. Neither accusing oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete. You are a little soul carrying combs. Those who believe they can harm me do not know me, do not know what I think, and cannot even touch the things that truly belong to me. First, understand the meaning of what you say, and then speak. Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, irrespective of what others think or do. Hold on to your true aspirations regardless of what is happening around you. The greater the difficulty, the more glory in overcoming it. Skillful pilots gained their reputation from storms and tempests. No one is free who is not the master of themselves.

He is wise because he does not mourn what he lacks but celebrates what he possesses. Do not search for goodness in external things but within yourselves. Do not attempt to appear wise to us. Do not wish events to unfold as you desire but rather accept them as they occur. If you know yourself, then dress accordingly. If you want to be a writer, write. Events do not happen randomly but as planned. When asked who is rich, Epictetus replied, "The one who is satisfied." Either God is unable to eliminate evil or unwilling to do so. Our thoughts about what happens to us, not the events themselves, cause our disturbance.

The wise believe that doing good is not for show but for the sake of doing right. It's better to have lived without fear and grief, even if it means going hungry, than to have an abundance but a troubled spirit. Foolish people blame others, average people blame themselves, but the wise see blame as nonsense. I would prefer a shorter life of nobility than a longer one of little significance. Great things are not made in an instant. People are not scared of things, but of how they perceive them. If someone speaks ill of you, don't defend yourself against the accusations. Instead, respond by saying they clearly don't know about your other faults, otherwise they would have mentioned those too. When something unfortunate happens, look inward and figure out how you can use the situation to your advantage. Even if my leg is bound, I can still use my mind and willpower to overcome any obstacle.

"Nothing great is ever created without the initial seed, whether it be a cluster of grapes or an imitation. If you express a desire for an imitation, I must advise that it needs time to grow, flourish, and ripen. It is crucial to keep the thought of death, exile, and other apparent tragedies before you at all times, especially death. This will prevent any object, thought, or desire from taking hold of you. A wise teacher, when asked how a man should give pain to his enemy, replied by suggesting that he prepare himself to live the best life possible. My concern is not with the way things are, but with how people perceive things to be. Do not construct your own rules, but live in harmony with nature. The crux of philosophy is for a man to live in such a way that his happiness relies as little as possible on external factors."

Visualize a character with an enduring personality that you aspire to emulate both in public and in private. Those who seek knowledge from philosophers must train themselves to be attentive listeners. To overcome anger, refrain from indulging it and remind yourself of your progress in reducing its frequency. When that day arrives, express gratitude to the gods. If you aim to better yourself, don't concern yourself with others' opinions of your knowledge or status. Focusing on external achievements may compromise your inner peace. Remember that those who provoke your anger have power over you only if you allow them to. Finally, if you hear rumors of someone speaking ill of you, resist the urge to react.