But indeed for the power of seeing and hearing, and indeed for life itself, and for the things which contribute to support it, for the fruits which are dry, and for wine and oil give thanks to God: but remember that he has given you something else better than all these, I mean the power of using them, proving them, and estimating the value of each.
Where these words come from
- Lots of sources credit Epictetus with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
- https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10661/pg10661-images.html
More from Epictetus
See allNo thing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig.
EpictetusIt is circumstances (difficulties) which show what men are.EpictetusFor where else is friendship than where there is fidelity, and modesty, where there is a communion of honest things and of nothing else.EpictetusPhilosophy does not propose to secure for a man any external thing.EpictetusFor as the carpenter’s material is wood, and that of the statuary is copper, so the matter of the art of living is each man’s life.EpictetusHow then shall my brother cease to be angry with me? Bring him to me and I will tell him. But I have nothing to say to you about his anger.Epictetus
EpictetusIt is circumstances (difficulties) which show what men are.EpictetusFor where else is friendship than where there is fidelity, and modesty, where there is a communion of honest things and of nothing else.EpictetusPhilosophy does not propose to secure for a man any external thing.EpictetusFor as the carpenter’s material is wood, and that of the statuary is copper, so the matter of the art of living is each man’s life.EpictetusHow then shall my brother cease to be angry with me? Bring him to me and I will tell him. But I have nothing to say to you about his anger.EpictetusMore on kindness
Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow.
Chief JosephAmong individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.
Benito JuárezAs to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm.
HippocratesI have never met a man so ignorant that I could not learn something from him.
Galileo GalileiIt is hard to say whether it is more dishonourable for the receiver to disown a benefit, or for the giver to demand a return of it: for a benefit is a loan, the repayment of which depends merely upon the good feeling of the debtor.
SenecaTo misuse a benefit like a spendthrift is most shameful, because we do not need our wealth but only our intention to set us free from the obligation of it; for a benefit is repaid by being acknowledged.Seneca
Chief JosephAmong individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.Benito JuárezAs to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm.HippocratesI have never met a man so ignorant that I could not learn something from him.Galileo GalileiIt is hard to say whether it is more dishonourable for the receiver to disown a benefit, or for the giver to demand a return of it: for a benefit is a loan, the repayment of which depends merely upon the good feeling of the debtor.SenecaTo misuse a benefit like a spendthrift is most shameful, because we do not need our wealth but only our intention to set us free from the obligation of it; for a benefit is repaid by being acknowledged.Seneca