Banquet Quote by Epictetus Epictetus
““Remember that you must behave as at a banquet. Is anything brought round to you? Put out your hand, and take a moderate share. Does it pass you? Do not stop it. Is it not come yet? Do not yearn in desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you. So with regard to children , wife, office, riches; and you will some time or other be worthy to feast with the gods. And if you do not so much as take the things which are set before you, but are able even to forego them, then you will not only be worthy to feast with the gods, but to rule with them also. For, by thus doing, Diogenes and Heraclitus, and others like them, deservedly became divine, and were so recognized.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Discourses, Epictetus, c. 108 AD
One should accept what comes, neither grasping eagerly nor rejecting, to achieve virtue and harmony with the divine.
In simple terms: Accept what comes, don’t cling or reject.
Key Takeaway
Practice patient acceptance.
Themes
self‑control
virtue
patience
Mood
calm
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- daily decisions
- relationships
- career challenges
- financial opportunities
Key Concepts
Stoicism
moderation
detachment
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance desire and acceptance?
- When is restraint harmful?
A Different Perspective
May lead to passism if misapplied.
