MOTIVATION FOR YOU

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher. The quotes that fallow are some
of the things that stuck with me after I read his works. There is much knowledge
to be gained from them.

It is not reasonings that are wanted now he says, for there are books
stuffed full of stoical reasonings. What is wanted, then? The man who
shall apply them; whose actions may bear testimony to his doctrines.
Assume this character for me, that we may no longer make use in the
schools of the examples of the ancients, but may have some examples of
our own.
What then is to be done? To make the best of what is in our power, and
take the rest as it occurs.
It is you who know yourself, what value you set upon yourself, and at
what rate you sell yourself; for different people sell themselves at
different prices.
What then, because my gifts are humble, shall I neglect all care of
myself? Heaven forbid!
I shall never be Milo, and yet I do not neglect my body and if I
should say to a wrestler, show me your muscle; and he should answer
me, see my dumbbells.. Your dumbbells are your own affair: I desire
to see the effect of them
No great thing is created suddenly.
Do you expect the greatest of arts to be acquired by slight endeavors?
The appearance of things to the mind is the standard of every action to
man!

If you wish for good receive it from yourself

[]for when the occasion calls upon him, he may begin crying , and
say, I wanted to learn a little longer first: earn what? If you did not
learn these things to show them in practice, why did you learn them?
[]philosophers advise us not to be concerned with mere learning; but
to add meditation likewise, and then practice.
[]use is one thing and understanding another.
EVERY habit and faculty is preserved and increased by correspondent
actions.
Whatever you would make habitual, practice it.
To make the effect reasonable the cause must be good.
[] nor, when you study one thing, expect improvement in another
We should have all our principles ready for use on every occasion.
What, then, ought each of us say upon every difficult occasion? It was
for this that I exercised; it was for this that I trained myself.
Consider what precedes and follows and then if it be for your
advantage engage in the affair. When you have reckoned up all this, if
your inclination still holds, set about the combat. Otherwise, take notice,
you will behave like children who sometimes play wrestlers, sometimes
gladiators; sometimes blow a trumpet, and sometimes act a tragedy.
First, say to yourself what you want to be; and then do what you have
to do. For in almost everything we see this to be the practice.
Dont do things for the appearance.
Performing not in word but in deed

Remember that there is nothing to be had for nothing.

Books? How, or to what end? For these are not the real preparation for
living, but living Is made up of things very different. Just as if a
champion, when he enters the lists, should begin crying because he is
not still exercising without. I was for this that you were exercised. For
this were the dumbbells, the dust, and your young antagonists. And do
you now seek for those when it is the time for actual business?
[] strengthen these opinions by exercise; practiced them in action.
[] for there is no part of life exempted, about which pains are not
needed.
And who can give to another the things which he himself has not.
For what then do you wait as an excuse for this delay in selfreformation? You are no longer a boy, but a grown man. If, therefore,
you will be negligent and slothful and always add procrastination to
procrastination, purpose to purpose and fix day after day in which you
will attend to yourself, you will insensibly continue to accomplish
nothing, and, living and dying, remain of vulgar mind. This instant then
think yourself worthy of living as a man grown up and a proficient. Let
whatever appears to be the best be your inviolable law. And if any
instance of pain and pleasure, glory and disgrace, be set before you,
remember that now is the combat, not the Olympiad comes on, nor can it
be put off; and that by one failure and defeat honor may be lost or
won.
We ought to know that it is not easy for a man to form his principles of
action, unless he daily reiterates and hears the same things, and at the
same time applies them in action!
No one is free who commands not himself.

Nothing is in reality either pleasant or unpleasant by nature: but all

things become such through habit.
Choose the best life; for habit will make it pleasant.

Bonus quotes:

Have a fresh mind and squeeze the juice of every day" Shogun.
The great aim of education is not knowledge but action Herbert Spencer
Time would be meaningless is there were too much of it Ray Kurzweil