Quotes from The Manual by Epictetus

• Your condition is the result of your own opinions and interpretation
• Instead of wishing to be a general, a congressman, or a celibrity, desire to be free. And the way to be free is to let go of anything that is not within your control
• Continually remind yourself that you are a mortal being, and someday will die. This will inspire you not to waste precious time in fruitless activities
• Find satisfaction in following your philosophy. If you want to be respected, start by respecting yourself.
• Stop judging the things that fate brings you as "good" or "evil"; only judge your own thoughts, desires, and actions as good or evil
• Where our attention and affection lie, there too is our worship. Take care, then, where you direct your focus, desires, and dislikes
• When you understand that outside events do not touch your deepest self--what matters is your interpretation and reaction--you can use any circumstance to your benefit
• Trust fate, and trust yourself. Seek advice from the laws of nature, not prognosticators
• Here are some examples of illogical conclusion: "I'm richer than you, therefore I am more valuable than you." "I'm more eloquent that you. therefore I am superior to you."
  The logical conclusions would be: "I'm richer than you, therefore I can buy more things than you." "I'm more eloquent than you, therefore my speech is more polished than yours."
  A person's worth, after all, is not found in possessions or style.
• Sheep do not spit out grass to show the farmer how much they've eaten--they ruminate on it, digest it, then display the results in wool and milk. In the same way, do not spew your undigested thoughts; show their results in action
• The whole point of learning is to live out the teachings