Epictetus’s 'Encheiridion' Quotes

“Stoics will aspire to be neither generals, nor corporate executives, nor heads of state, nor music stars, nor movie stars, nor star athletes, nor plutocrats, nor anyone else who wields political, social or economic power. Stoics want freedom, specifically, the freedom to be happy. And the way to be free is to be good. Stoics compete against themselves to become better persons than they were yesterday. If your contest is to become better than you were yesterday, then you have the power to be invincible and to win, day after day. This is the road to freedom.”
― Scott Aikin, Epictetus’s 'Encheiridion': A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics

“In Ench. 21 Epictetus urges us to think every day about what non-Stoics regard as terrible things, death being the worst of all. This strategy empowers Stoics to prepare for ‘the worst’. Since things beyond our control can take us off guard at any time, it is wise to be prepared to deal with whatever happens, no matter how terrible.”
― Scott Aikin, Epictetus’s 'Encheiridion': A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics

“By disdaining the things that are not up to us, Stoics disencumber themselves of all the baggage that distracts, hampers and ceaselessly worries non-Stoics. Obsession with things not up to them enslaves non-Stoics. Non-Stoics sooner or later lose when competing for things not up to them. In contrast, Stoics guarantee victory by competing only in the contest to become better, wiser and freer.”
― Scott Aikin, Epictetus’s 'Encheiridion': A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics

“Thus, Stoics will aspire to be neither generals, nor corporate executives, nor heads of state, nor music stars, nor movie stars, nor star athletes, nor plutocrats, nor anyone else who wields political, social or economic power.”
― Scott Aikin, Epictetus’s 'Encheiridion': A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics