Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.

Epictetus
Also known as: Ἐπίκτητος
English
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About Epictetus

Epictetus (c. 55 – c. 135 AD), born a slave, was a Greek Stoic philosopher. His words were recorded by his student Arrian in the Discourses and Enchiridion written in the early 2nd-century.

Biography information from Wikiquote

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Additional quotes by Epictetus

لا تقل أبدًا إني فيلسوف، ولا تكثر الحديث بين الجُهَّال عن نظرياتك، بل بيِّنها بالأفعال. فإذا كنت في وليمة فلا تقل كيف ينبغي الأكل بل كُل كما ينبغي.
وإذا دار أي حديث بين الجهَّال حول أي نظرياتٍ فلسفية فالزم الصمت دائمًا؛ فثَمة خطرٌ كبيرٌ بأن تقيء في الحال ما لم تهضمه.
ذلك أنه حتى الخِراف لا تقيء عشبها لكي تُريَ الرعاةَ كم أكلَت، بل عندما تهضم الكلأ داخلها فإنها تُخرِجه صوفًا ولبنًا.

He who is discontented with what he has, and with what has been granted to him by fortune, is one who is ignorant of the art of living, but he who bears that in a noble spirit, and makes reasonable use of all that comes from it, deserves to be regarded as a good man.

"Suppose I should say to a wrestler, 'Show me your muscle'. And he should answer me, 'See my dumb-bells'. Your dumb-bells are your own affair; I want to see the effect of them.

"Take the treatise 'On Choice', and see how thoroughly I have perused it.
I am not asking about this, O slave, but how you act in choosing and refusing, how you manage your desires and aversions, your intentions and purposes, how you meet events — whether you are in harmony with nature's laws or opposed to them. If in harmony, give me evidence of that, and I will say you are progressing; if the contrary, you may go your way, and not only comment on your books, but write some like them yourself; and what good will it do you?