Epictetus - Enchiridion

"Of all existing things some are in our power, and others are not in our power. In our power are thought, impulse, will to get and will to avoid, and, in a word, everything which is our own doing. Things not in our power include the body, property, reputation, office, and, in a word, everything which is not our own doing. Things in our power are by nature free, unhindered, untrammeled; things not in our power are weak, servile, subject to hindrance, dependent on others. Remember then that if you imagine that what is naturally slavish is free, and what is naturally another’s is your own, you will be hampered, you will mourn, you will be put to confusion, you will blame gods and men; but if you think that only your own belongs to you, and that what is another’s is indeed another’s, no one will ever put compulsion or hindrance on you, you will blame none, you will accuse none, you will do nothing against your will, no one will harm you, you will have no enemy, for no harm can touch you."

"Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable or from neglecting what is within our power."

"We are disturbed not by events, but by the views which we take of them."

"All external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control, but we can accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. Individuals are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline."

"The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. "

"To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete."

"First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak."

"If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked."

"It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows."

"No man is free who is not master of himself." 

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Came across Epictetus whilst surfing the Net today. The philosophical quotes attributed to him appear simple, yet profound - perfectly Stoic

--> - which is also in line with the basic philosophy of Vendatism, Jainism and Buddhism, i.e. suffering is not on account of living per se, but as a result of attachments (which attachments are choices each of us make and can control). Man has the choice of controlling his suffering by becoming self-aware (as opposed to merely following another’s word/ path), the highest level of which is referred to as “moksha”.