Advantage Quote by Epictetus
““The condition and characteristic of an uninstructed person is this: he never expects from himself profit (advantage) nor harm, but from externals. The condition and characteristic of a philosopher is this: he expects all advantage and all harm from himself.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Discourses, by Epictetus, 2nd century AD
A philosopher takes responsibility for both good and bad outcomes, while an untrained person blames external factors.
In simple terms: Philosophers own all results; others blame outside.
Key Takeaway
Own your outcomes.
Themes
responsibility
self‑reliance
philosophy
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
ethical
practical
When to use this quote
- personal decision‑making
- leadership
- conflict resolution
- stress management
Key Concepts
Stoicism
internal locus of control
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate what you can control from what you cannot?
- What habits help you accept external events?
A Different Perspective
It can be unrealistic to expect total control over external events.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
