The Enchiridion Quotes

“If anyone tells you that a certain person has spoken in a bad way about you, don’t make excuses about what has been said, but answer: “He was ignorant of my other faults, otherwise he would have mentioned those also.”
― Epictetus, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“If a person had handed over your body to a stranger, you would certainly be angry. So why do you not feel any shame in handing over your own mind to any criticiser, to be unsettled and annoyed.”
― Epictetus, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“Remember it’s not the person who gives abuse or blows, who insults, but the view we take of these things as insulting.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“if you take only those things which are truly your own and view what belongs to others as it really is, then no one can control you, no one can restrict you; you will find fault with no one, you will accuse no one, you will do nothing against your”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“There are things within our power, and there are things beyond our power.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“If you are pretending to be a character beyond your strength, you have degraded your original self and quit being the character which you can support.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“because another cannot hurt you unless you let them. You will only be hurt when you allow yourself to be hurt.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“Then, in combat, you may be thrown onto the floor, dislocate your arm, twist your ankle, and, after all, lose the fight. When you have weighed this all up, if your inclination is to still train, go forward into combat. Otherwise, I’m warning you, you will behave like children who sometimes play as wrestlers, sometimes as gladiators, sometimes blow a trumpet, and sometimes act upset, when they mimic the shows they have admired.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“Like when our neighbour’s boy has broken a cup, or something similar, we are ready to say, “this type of things can and do happen”; be assured, then, that when your own cup is broken, you should act in the same way as when another’s cup is broken. Now apply this to greater things. Is the child or wife of another person dead? There is no one who wouldn’t say, “This is unfortunately a part of life.” But if anyone’s own child happens to die, it is immediately, “Look what has happened to me!”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“Remember it’s not the person who gives abuse or blows, who insults, but the view we take of these things as insulting. When, therefore, anyone provokes you, be assured that it is your own opinion which provokes you.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“Remember that you should behave at a dinner. When anything is brought around to you put your hand out and take a moderate share. Did it pass by? Don’t stop it. Is it yet to come? Don’t yearn in desire for it, but wait until it reaches you. And use this manner in regards to children, wife, work, riches; and one day you will be worthy to have dinner with the gods.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“This is the price I pay for peace and tranquillity; and nothing is to be had for nothing.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“When someone fails to obtain the object of his desires he becomes disappointed; and if he is subject to something that he dislikes he is unfortunate. If then, you decide to avoid the things you dislike which you can control, you will never suffer any grief from anything in your power to avoid; but if you try to avoid sickness, or death, or poverty, you will run the risk of being unhappy. So we should remove the habit of avoidance from all things that are not within our power, and apply it to things which are undesirable and which are within our power.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“But if you already have these, and possess power and wealth, you may miss what true wealth is seeking the power, and you will fail to find that which creates happiness and freedom. Therefore, begin by being able to say to every unpleasing resemblance, “You are only a resemblance of truth and are not the real thing.” And then examine, using the rules you have; but first by this: whether it concerns the things which are within our own power or those which are not; and if it concerns anything beyond our power, be prepared to say that it is not something you require.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“Control me god, toward my destiny, To wherever you have fixed my destination. I follow cheerfully; and, if I don’t, In sad manner, I have to follow anyway. Whoever properly understands fate is deemed Wise among men, and knows the laws of Heaven. And this also: “If it pleases god, let it be.” “They may kill me; but they cannot hurt me”.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“Therefore, begin with little things. Has a little oil been spilled or a little wine stolen? Say to yourself, “This is the price I pay for peace and tranquillity; and nothing is to be had for nothing.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“There are things within our power, and there are things beyond our power. Within our power are our opinion, aim, desire, dislikes, and, in summary, whatever is our own. Beyond our power is property, reputation, duties, and, in summary, whatever is not ours. The things within our power are naturally free, unrestricted, unhindered; but those beyond our power are weak, dependent and restricted. So remember if you attribute freedom to things which are not naturally ours and take what belongs to others for yourself, you will be hindered, you will feel sorrow, you will be disturbed, you will then find fault with god and with men. But if you take only those things which are truly your own and view what belongs to others as it really is, then no one can control you, no one can restrict you; you will find fault with no one, you will accuse no one, you will do nothing against your own will; no one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you won’t suffer any harm.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“Because when one exceeds their measure of fitness there is no boundary.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader

“Don’t demand that events have to happen as you want them to; but wish them to happen as they happen to, and you will go on well.”
― James Harris, The Enchiridion: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader