Philosophy Quote by Epictetus — Inspiring Words on Life, Love & Wisdom

“The first and most important field of philosophy is the application of principles such as “Do not lie.” Next come the proofs, such as why we should not lie. The third field supports and articulates the proofs, by asking, for example, “How does this prove it? What exactly is a proof, what is logical inference, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood?” Thus, the third field is necessary because of the second, and the second because of the first. The most important, though, the one that should occupy most of our time, is the first. But we do just the opposite. We are preoccupied with the third field and give that all our attention, passing the first by altogether. The result is that we lie – but have no difficulty proving why we shouldn’t.”

“No man is free who is not master of himself.”

“If you are told that such an one speaks ill of you, make no defence against what was said, but answer, He surely knew not my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these only!”

“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”

“The pre-Socratic Greek philosopher”

“Many scientists have tried to make determinism and complementarity the basis of conclusions that seem to me weak and dangerous; for instance, they have used”

“But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.”

“Enuncia algunos textos muy contundentes. Son textos en los cuales la destreza literaria casi infinita que tenía Sartre se pone al servicio de la contundencia conceptual. Y cuando se logra esto a un pensador se lo entiende y se lo recibe en plenitud.”

“Mist to mist, drops to drops. For water thou art, and unto water shalt thou return.”

“But I realized something. About art. And psychiatry. They're both self-perpetuating systems. Like religion. All”