Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the living, and her eyes they blind.
EpictetusRead
Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understand your true self before trying to present yourself to the world.
This quote emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and authenticity. By knowing who you truly are, you can express yourself in a way that is genuine and aligned with your true identity, rather than conforming to external expectations or societal pressures.
Themes
Self-AwarenessAuthenticityIdentityPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal development.
More from Epictetus
All quotes βLearn to distinguish what you can and can't control. Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, desires and the things that repel us. They are directly subject to our influence.
EpictetusRead
Men are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
EpictetusRead
Nothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds you back. For your own will is always within your control. Sickness may challenge your body. But are you merely your body? Lameness may impede your legs. But you are not merely your legs. Your will is bigger than your legs. Your will needn't be affected by an incident unless you let it.
EpictetusRead
The people have a right to the truth as they have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
EpictetusRead
Practice yourself, for heaven's sake, in little things, and thence proceed to greater.
EpictetusRead
Similar quotes
I have the immense joy of being man, a member of a race in which God Himself became incarnate. As if the sorrows and stupidities of the human condition could overwhelm me, now that I realize what we all are. And if only everybody could realize this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.
Thomas MertonRead
(The psuedoscience of planning seems almost neurotic in its determination to imitate empiric failure and ignore empiric success.)
Jane JacobsRead
If you have indeed been so highly distinguished, should you not βlive no longer to yourselves, but altogether unto Him who died for you and rose again?β Should any thing short of absolute perfection satisfy you? Should you not labour to βstand perfect and complete in all the will of God?β
Charles SimeonRead
Mind is consciousness which has put on limitations. You are originally unlimited and perfect. Later you take on limitations and become the mind.
Ramana MaharshiRead
Nothing, absolutely nothing, has a more direct bearing on the moral choices made by individuals or the purposes pursued by society than belief or disbelief in God.
Ravi ZachariasRead
We know that we're not supposed to be racially biased, and we don't want to think of ourselves as racially biased, so we tell ourselves a different story.
Randall KennedyRead