--- title: "4 Consider Quotes By Epictetus" description: "4 Consider quotes by Epictetus. Plus more from Epictetus and more Consider sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/epictetus-413_bigger_consider-the-bigger-picture-think-things_184124.jpg" --- > [Consider the bigger picture…think things through and fully commit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/consider-the-bigger-picture-think-things-through-and-fully-commit/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/epictetus-413_bigger_consider-the-bigger-picture-think-things_184124.jpg) > [Consider first the nature of the business in hand; then examine thy own nature, whether thou hast strength to undertake it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/consider-first-the-nature-of-the-business-in-hand-then-examine-thy/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/epictetus-413_business_consider-first-the-nature-of-the-busines_1391485.jpg) > [“Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is anchored; if you go on shore to get water you may along the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/consider-when-on-a-voyage-your-ship-is-anchored-if-you-go-on-shore-to/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/epictetus-413_consider_consider-when-on-a-voyage-your-ship-is-a_2871930.jpg) > [“Aye, but to debase myself thus were unworthy of me." "That," said Epictetus, "is for you to consider, not for me. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/aye-but-to-debase-myself-thus-were-unworthy-of-me-that-said-epictetus/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/epictetus-413_consider_aye-but-to-debase-myself-thus-were-unwor_3043094.jpg) ## Other authors on Consider ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider/epictetus/#itemlist", "name": "4 Consider Quotes By Epictetus", "numberOfItems": 4, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Consider the bigger picture…think things through and fully commit!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/consider-the-bigger-picture-think-things-through-and-fully-commit/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/epictetus-413_bigger_consider-the-bigger-picture-think-things_184124.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/epictetus-413_bigger_consider-the-bigger-picture-think-things_184124.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/epictetus-413_bigger_consider-the-bigger-picture-think-things_184124.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Consider the bigger picture…think things through and fully commit!” — Epictetus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Consider first the nature of the business in hand; then examine thy own nature, whether thou hast strength to undertake it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/consider-first-the-nature-of-the-business-in-hand-then-examine-thy/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/epictetus-413_business_consider-first-the-nature-of-the-busines_1391485.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/epictetus-413_business_consider-first-the-nature-of-the-busines_1391485.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/epictetus-413_business_consider-first-the-nature-of-the-busines_1391485.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Consider first the nature of the business in hand; then examine thy own nature, whether thou hast strength…” — Epictetus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is anchored; if you go on shore to get water you may along the way amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish, or an onion. 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You should aim at being like men in general—just as your thread has no ambition either to be anything distinguished compared with the other threads. But I desire to be the purple—that small and shining part which makes the rest seem fair and beautiful. Why then do you bid me become even as the multitude? 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