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Stoic quotes

Quotations from the Stoics and from writers who share their questions: what we control, how to meet misfortune, how to spend a limited life. Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus wrote in Greek and Latin, so each entry names the translation it uses. The internet credits them with many lines they never wrote.

If you live according to nature, you will never be poor; if you live according to opinion, you will never be rich.
SenecaLetters to Lucilius, 16.7, trans. Richard Gummere
It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.
SenecaLetters to Lucilius, 2.6, trans. Richard Gummere
If thou art pained by any external thing, it is not this thing that disturbs thee, but thy own judgement about it. And it is in thy power to wipe out this judgement now.
Marcus AureliusMeditations, 8.47, trans. George Long
Men are disturbed, not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things.
EpictetusEnchiridion, 5, trans. George Long
Nowhere either with more quiet or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than into his own soul.
Marcus AureliusMeditations, 4.3, trans. George Long
Of things some are in our power, and others are not.
EpictetusEnchiridion, 1, trans. George Long
Set yourself free for your own sake; gather and save your time, which till lately has been forced from you, or filched away, or has merely slipped from your hands.
SenecaLetters to Lucilius, 1.1, trans. Richard Gummere
The best way of avenging thyself is not to become like the wrong doer.
Marcus AureliusMeditations, 6.6, trans. George Long
Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.
Marcus AureliusMeditations, 5.16, trans. George Long
There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
William ShakespeareHamlet, Act 2, Scene 2
When a man does not know what harbour he is making for, no wind is the right wind.
SenecaLetters to Lucilius, 71.3, trans. Richard Gummere