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
The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Knowing your purpose enables you to navigate life effectively and gain respect.
This quote by Epictetus emphasizes the importance of having a clear sense of direction and purpose in life. When a person is confident about their goals and their path, they attract the support and respect of others, as they show determination and clarity that allows them to overcome obstacles and move forward.
Themes
PurposeDirectionConfidenceSuccessRespect
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech, saying this quote can inspire the audience to find their own path.
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
Just three minutes a day of silence is a wonderful exercise to reset your ears and to recalibrate so that you can hear the quiet again. If you can't get absolute silence, go for quiet; that's absolutely fine.
Julian TreasureRead
Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and noises which the ordinary person does not hear.
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If you persist in trying to attain what is never attained (It is Tao's gift), if you persist in making effort to obtain what effort cannot get, if you persist in reasoning about what cannot be understood, you will be destroyed by the very thing you seek. To know when to stop, to know when you can get no further by your own action, this is the right beginning!
ZhuangziRead
Everybody knows if you are too careful you are so occupied in being careful that you are sure to stumble over something.
Gertrude SteinRead
We can be as honest as we are ignorant. If we are, when asked what is beyond the horizon of the known, we must say that we do not know.
Robert Green IngersollRead
The young have aspirations that never come to pass, the old have reminiscences of what never happened.
Hector Hugh MunroRead