Podcast
Questions and Answers
True or false: Epictetus believed that inner qualities like contentment and tranquility are more important than external goods like money and fame.
True or false: Epictetus believed that inner qualities like contentment and tranquility are more important than external goods like money and fame.
True
True or false: People are willing to suffer for their own approval.
True or false: People are willing to suffer for their own approval.
False
True or false: External goods like money and fame are within our control.
True or false: External goods like money and fame are within our control.
False
True or false: The pursuit of external goods comes at no cost.
True or false: The pursuit of external goods comes at no cost.
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True or false: Epictetus prioritized inner peace and freedom over everything else.
True or false: Epictetus prioritized inner peace and freedom over everything else.
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True or false: Being a loser is always a negative thing.
True or false: Being a loser is always a negative thing.
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True or false: Being a philosopher means pursuing what the majority wants.
True or false: Being a philosopher means pursuing what the majority wants.
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True or false: To be unconquerable, one must be willing to lose everything.
True or false: To be unconquerable, one must be willing to lose everything.
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Study Notes
- Epictetus believed that achievements like wealth and fame are insignificant compared to inner qualities like contentment, joy, right action, tranquility, and the power of restraint.
- People are afraid of being seen as losers and are willing to suffer for other people's approval.
- External goods like money and fame are weak, slavish, and beyond our control.
- The pursuit of external goods comes at a significant cost, and we sacrifice a lot to obtain them.
- Epictetus prioritized a state of happiness and freedom over anything else and stated that we should be willing to quit the things that impede it.
- Being a loser is not terrible. It's what we make of it.
- Being a philosopher means that we pay the price of probably not having, or at least not pursuing, what the vulgar want.
- To be unconquerable by anything, we must be willing to lose everything.
- Being a loser comes with the benefit of 'not paying the price for not being one.'
- One must have the wisdom to decide what's truly beneficial and the strength to stick with it consistently, with a disregard for things like praise, riches, power, and social standing.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Epictetus' philosophical beliefs on achievements, inner qualities, external goods, and the pursuit of happiness over material possessions. Explore themes of contentment, joy, right action, tranquility, and the power of restraint.
