Said Tomorrow Quote by Epictetus
““What then, is it not possible to be free from faults? It is not possible; but this is possible: to direct your efforts incessantly to being faultess. For we must be content if by never remitting this attention we shall escape at least a few errors. When you have said "Tomorrow I will begin to attend," you must be told that you are saying this: "Today I will be shameless, disregardful of time and place, mean;it will be in the power of others to give me pain, today I will be passionate and envious. See how many evil things you are permitting yourself to do. If it is good to use attention tomorrow, how much better is it to do so today? If tomorrow it is in your interest to attend, much more is it today, that you may be able to do so tomorrow also, and may not defer it again to the third day.””
About This Quote
Source Discourses: Moral Philosophy, 2nd century AD
Striving for perfection is impossible; instead, continuously direct effort toward reducing faults, acting today rather than postponing.
In simple terms: Perfection can't be achieved, but we can keep improving now.
Key Takeaway
Act today to reduce errors.
Themes
self-improvement
discipline
mindfulness
Mood
determined
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- daily planning
- goal setting
- behavior change
- time management
Key Concepts
Stoicism
habit formation
Questions to Reflect On
- What small action can you take today to reduce a recurring fault?
- How does immediate effort change long‑term outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Changing habits requires sustained effort, not just one-time decisions.
