10 Stoic Quotes on Finding Purpose

  • “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”

    — Epictetus
  • “God has entrusted me with myself. No man is free who is not master of himself. A man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.”

    — Epictetus
  • “There is a time and place for diversion and amusements, but you should never allow them to override your true purposes.”

    — Epictetus
  • “If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”

    — Seneca
  • “Don't put your purpose in one place and expect to see progress made somewhere else.”

    — Epictetus
  • “This is your business—to act well the given part, but to choose it belongs to another.”

    — Epictetus
  • “Tell yourself what you want to be, then act your part accordingly.”

    — Epictetus
  • “When you find your direction, check to make sure that it is the right one.”

    — Epictetus
  • “Let all your efforts be directed to something, let it keep that end in view. It's not activity that disturbs people, but false conceptions of things that drive them mad.”

    — Seneca
  • “Everything - a horse, a vine - is created for some duty... For what task, then, were you yourself created?”

    — Marcus Aurelius