First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
Epictetus (c. 50–135) was born a slave in Phrygia and spent part of his life enslaved in Rome before being freed and founding his own school of philosophy. He wrote nothing down; what survives was recorded by his student Arrian. His teaching reduces to one distinction — between what is in our power and what is not.
About this theme: Motivation
Motivation is the youngest idea in this collection — it enters use as a psychological term only in the twentieth century. Older writers describe the same thing with a different vocabulary: will, duty, habit. That difference in words hides a difference in assumption. Motivation is understood as a state that comes and goes; habit as something built regardless of the state.
More by Epictetus
- It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
- Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.
- No man is free who is not master of himself.
- He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
- Only the educated are free.
More on Motivation
- However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act upon them?— Buddha
- Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.— Albert Einstein
- Obstacles cannot crush me; every obstacle yields to stern resolve.— Leonardo da Vinci
- It always seems impossible until it's done.— Nelson Mandela
- No one knows what he can do till he tries.— Publilius Syrus