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🌿“This is God’s law and nature’s: ‘Let the best man win.’ But ‘best’ in his area of expertise. One body is stronger than another body, many bodies are stronger than one; a thief has the advantage here over one who is not a thief. This is how I came to lose my lamp: the thief was better than I am in staying awake. But he acquired the lamp at a price: he became a thief for its sake, for its sake, he lost his ability to be trusted, for a lamp he became a brute. And he imagined he came out ahead!
🌿Fine words, you may say – but now I have been seized by the cloak and am being dragged downtown. Bystanders shout, ‘Hey, philosopher, what good did your views do you after all? Look, you’re being hauled of to prison and soon will be beheaded.’
🌿Tell me, what Introduction to Philosophy could I have read that would have saved me from being dragged away if a stronger man grabs me by the cloak; or could have kept me out of prison if I am assaulted by a gang of ten? What philosophy has taught me, though, is to be indifferent to events beyond the will’s control. Haven’t you profited in this respect too? So don’t look for help from philosophy except in areas where you have learned that help from it can be found.”
🌿© Epictetus, “Discourses”.
“Diogenes says that there is one way to freedom, and that is to die content: and he writes to the Persian king, "You cannot enslave the Athenian state any more than you can enslave fishes."
"How is that? Cannot I catch them?"
"If you catch them," says Diogenes, "they will immediately leave you, as fishes do; for if you catch a fish, it dies; and if these men that are caught shall die, of what use to you is the preparation for war?"
These are the words of a free man who had carefully examined the thing and, as was natural, had discovered it. But if you look for it in a different place from where it is, what wonder if you never find it?”
© Epictetus, “Discourses”.
🌿🌿🌿No man fears Caesar himself, but he fears death, banishment, deprivation of his property, prison, and disgrace. Nor does any man love Caesar, unless Caesar is a person of great merit, but he loves wealth, the office of tribune, praetor or consul. When we love, and hate, and fear these things, it must be that those who have the power over them must be our masters.”🌿🌿🌿
© Epictetus, “Discourses”.
“Man, in every kind there is produced something which excels; in oxen, in dogs, in bees, in horses. Do not then say to that which excels, "Who, then, are you?" If you do, it will find a voice in some way and say, "I am such a thing as the purple in a garment: do not expect me to be like the others, or blame my nature that it has made me different from the rest of men.” © Epictetus, “Discourses”.
Reminded this excerpt from Epictetus:
‘I want to read Chrysippus’ treatise on the Liar.’ Is that your plan? Then go and jump in the lake and take your ridiculous plan with you. What good could come of it? Your unhappiness will persist the whole time you are reading it, and your anxiety will not abate a bit during a reading of the thing before an audience. Here’s how you behave: ‘Shall I read to you, brother, then you to me?’ ‘Man, it’s marvelous the way you write.’ ‘Well, it’s uncanny how you capture Xenophon’s style.’ ‘And you have caught Plato’s manner.’ ‘And you Antisthenes’!’ Then, having indulged each other in your fatuous fancies, you go back to your former habits: your desires and aversions are as they were, your impulses, designs and plans remain unchanged, you pray and care for the same old things. © Epictetus, “Discourses”.
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5 RULES to Beat PROCRASTINATION: Time-Devouring Monster vs. EPICTETUS
You know the feeling when you keep putting off your daily tasks and even your life-defining goals?
You find new excuses for your indecision, giving yourself extra time to stay inactive, almost as if you're celebrating your laziness, even though you fully understand the importance of what needs to be done.
Some people even delay their daily routines for an entire year — or for the next one!
Procrastination — the silent thief of time and potential, a relentless, time-devouring monster — often stems from a lack of mental energy, focus, or emotional readiness to tackle tasks.
To overcome it, it's important to practice patience after all — patience to watch this video all the way through to uncover how to break free from this long-lasting monstrous skill-killer and take charge of your life starting now.
"If cattle had opinions, they would make fun of anyone interested in anything besides the grass!" (c) Epictetus.
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