POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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23. If you ever happen to turn your attention to externals, so as to wish to please anyone, be assured that you have ruined your scheme of life. Be contented, then, in everything with being a philosopher; and, if you wish to be thought so likewise by anyone, appear so to yourself, and it will suffice you.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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A life without purpose is a languid, drifting thing; Every day we ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves: This day let me make a sound beginning, for what we have hitherto done is naught!

-- Thomas A. Kempis

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22. If you have an earnest desire of attaining to philosophy, prepare yourself from the very first to be laughed at, to be sneered by the multitude, to hear them say,." He is returned to us a philosopher all at once," and " Whence this supercilious look?" Now, for your part, don't have a supercilious look indeed; but keep steadily to those things which appear best to you as one appointed by God to this station. For remember that, if you adhere to the same point, those very persons who at first ridiculed will afterwards admire you. But if you are conquered by them, you will incur a double ridicule.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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The one resolution, which was in my mind long before it took the form of a resolution, is the key-note of my life. It is this, always to regard as mere impertinences of fate the handicaps which were placed upon my life almost at the beginning. I resolved that they should not crush or dwarf my soul, but rather be made to blossom, like Aaron's rod, with flowers.

-- Helen Keller (1880-1968) American Writer

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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21. Let death and exile, and all other things which appear terrible be daily before your eyes, but chiefly death, and you will never entertain any abject thought, nor too eagerly covet anything.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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Principle -- particularly moral principle -- can never be a weathervane, spinning around this way and that with the shifting winds of expediency. Moral principle is a compass forever fixed and forever true.

-- Edward R. Lyman

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20. Remember, that not he who gives ill language or a blow insults, but the principle which represents these things as insulting. When, therefore, anyone provokes you, be assured that it is your own opinion which provokes you. Try, therefore, in the first place, not to be hurried away with the appearance. For if you once gain time and respite, you will more easily command yourself.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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One day in retrospect the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.

-- Sigmund Freud

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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19. You may be unconquerable, if you enter into no combat in which it is not in your own control to conquer. When, therefore, you see anyone eminent in honors, or power, or in high esteem on any other account, take heed not to be hurried away with the appearance, and to pronounce him happy; for, if the essence of good consists in things in our own control, there will be no room for envy or emulation. But, for your part, don't wish to be a general, or a senator, or a consul, but to be free; and the only way to this is a contempt of things not in our own control.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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The proper function of [a person] is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.

-- Jack London

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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18. When a raven happens to croak unluckily, don't allow the appearance hurry you away with it, but immediately make the distinction to yourself, and say, "None of these things are foretold to me; but either to my paltry body, or property, or reputation, or children, or wife. But to me all omens are lucky, if I will. For whichever of these things happens, it is in my control to derive advantage from it."

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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In every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong; honor that; try to imitate it, and your faults will drop off like dead leaves when their time comes.

-- John Ruskin (1819-1900) English Art Critic

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17. Remember that you are an actor in a drama, of such a kind as the author pleases to make it. If short, of a short one; if long, of a long one. If it is his pleasure you should act a poor man, a cripple,
a governor, or a private person, see that you act it naturally. For this is your business, to act well the character assigned you; to choose it is another's.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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16. When you see anyone weeping in grief because his son has gone abroad, or is dead, or because he has suffered in his affairs, be careful that the appearance may not misdirect you. Instead, distinguish within your own mind, and be prepared to say, "It's not the accident that distresses this person., because it doesn't distress another person; it is the judgment which he makes about it." As far as words go, however, don't reduce yourself to his level, and certainly do not moan with him. Do not moan inwardly either.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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I believe with all my heart that civilization has produced nothing finer than a man or woman who thinks and practices true tolerance.

-- Frank Knox

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15. Remember that you must behave in life as at a dinner party. Is anything brought around to you? Put out your hand and take your share with moderation. Does it pass by you? Don't stop it. Is it not yet come? Don't stretch your desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you. Do this with regard to children, to a wife, to public posts, to riches, and you will eventually be a worthy partner of the feasts of the gods. And if you don't even take the things which are set before you, but are able even to reject them, then you will not only be a partner at the feasts of the gods, but also of their empire. For, by doing this, Diogenes, Heraclitus and others like them, deservedly became, and were called, divine.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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Employment gives health, sobriety, and morals. Constant employment and well-paid labor produce general prosperity, content, andcheerfulness.

-- Daniel Webster

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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14. If you wish your children, and your wife, and your friends to live for ever, you are stupid; for you wish to be in control of things which you cannot, you wish for things that belong to others to be your own. So likewise, if you wish your servant to be without fault, you are a fool; for you wish vice not to be vice," but something else. But, if you wish to have your desires undisappointed, this is in your own control. Exercise, therefore, what is in your control. He is the master of every other person who is able to confer or remove whatever that person wishes either to have or to avoid. Whoever, then, would be free, let him wish nothing, let him decline nothing, which depends on others else he must necessarily be a slave.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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Not the owner of many possessions will you be right to call happy: he more rightly deserves the name of happy who knows how to use the Gods' gifts wisely and to put up with rough poverty, and who fearsdishonor more than death.

-- Horace (65-8 BC) Roman Poet

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13. If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid with regard to external things. Don't wish to be thought to know anything; and even if you appear to be somebody important to others, distrust yourself. For, it is difficult to both keep your faculty of choice in a state conformable to nature, and at the same time acquire external things. But while you are careful about the one, you must of necessity neglect the other.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.

-- Donald A. Adams

POSITIVE VIBE OF THE DAY

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12. If you want to improve, reject such reasonings as these: "If I neglect my affairs, I'll have no income; if I don't correct my servant, he will be bad." For it is better to die with hunger, exempt from grief and fear, than to live in affluence with perturbation; and it is better your servant should be bad, than you unhappy.

Begin therefore from little things. Is a little oil spilt? A little wine stolen? Say to yourself, "This is the price paid for apathy, for tranquillity, and nothing is to be had for nothing." When you call your servant, it is possible that he may not come; or, if he does, he may not do what you want. But he is by no means of such importance that it should be in his power to give you any disturbance.

The Enchiridion
By Epictetus
Translated by Elizabeth Carter