--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fight against yourself, recover yourself…" description: "\"Fight against yourself, recover yourself to decency, to modesty, to freedom. And, in the first place, condemn your actions; but when you have condemned..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/epictetus-413_action_fight-against-yourself-recover-yourself_1678773.jpg" --- # Fight against yourself, recover yourself to decency, to… ![“Fight against yourself, recover yourself to decency, to modesty, to freedom. And, in the first place, condemn your actions; but when you have condemned them, do not despair of yourself. For both ruin and recovery are from within.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/epictetus-413_action_fight-against-yourself-recover-yourself_1678773.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/epictetus-413_action_fight-against-yourself-recover-yourself_1678773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/epictetus-413_action_fight-against-yourself-recover-yourself_1678773.jpg) > “Fight against yourself, recover yourself to decency, to modesty, to freedom. And, in the first place, condemn your actions; but when you have condemned them, do not despair of yourself. For both ruin and recovery are from within.” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑condemnation initiates moral repair; both ruin and recovery arise internally. **In simple terms:** Judge actions, then rebuild self. Key Takeaway Self‑assessment leads to inner freedom. Themes self‑discipline morality freedom Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - therapy - personal development - conflict resolution Key Concepts stoicism self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What internal habits cause ruin? - How can self‑compassion aid recovery? A Different Perspective Condemning may cause excessive self‑criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Decency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decency/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) ## Related quotes > [At the same time as we clearly condemn actions of violence by groups in Palestinian against Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/at-the-same-time-as-we-clearly-condemn-actions-of-violence-by-groups/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [I feel like Tecia's a good fight for me to recover the mistakes I made against Marina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-feel-like-tecia-s-a-good-fight-for-me-to-recover-the-mistakes-i/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [“There is only the fight to recover what has been lost And found and lost again and again: and now, under conditions That seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/there-is-only-the-fight-to-recover-what-has-been-lost-and-found-and/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [When you let go of your attention for a little while, do not think you may recover it whenever you please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-you-let-go-of-your-attention-for-a-little-while-do-not-think-you/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Immodest words admit of no defence, For want of decency is want of sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-dillon-4th-earl-of-roscommon/immodest-words-admit-of-no-defence-for-want-of-decency-is-want-of/) [Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-dillon-4th-earl-of-roscommon/) > [As to modesty and decency, if we are simians we have done well, considering: but if we are something else-fallen angels-we have indeed fallen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-day/as-to-modesty-and-decency-if-we-are-simians-we-have-done-well/) [Clarence Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-day/) > [We want everyone to prepare themselves for the reality that we are not going to be able to recover significant numbers of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/we-want-everyone-to-prepare-themselves-for-the-reality-that-we-are/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [“To recover your life is within your power; simply view things again as once you viewed them, for your revival rests in that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/to-recover-your-life-is-within-your-power-simply-view-things-again-as/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [You can recover the truth of what you really are. 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Then we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacky-ickx/in-this-kind-of-situation-we-tend-to-cling-to-his-convictions-we/) [Jacky Ickx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacky-ickx/) > [“There's a hard law, mejuffrou, that when a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/there-s-a-hard-law-mejuffrou-that-when-a-deep-injury-is-done-to-us-we/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“I don't know how to recover from this...from you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/i-don-t-know-how-to-recover-from-this-from-you/) [J. Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sterling/) > [When you're young, you've got plenty of time to recover from your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/when-you-re-young-you-ve-got-plenty-of-time-to-recover-from-your/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [There are 4 things you can never recover: The STONE, after the throw. The WORD, after it's said. The OCCASION, after it's missed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerhia/there-are-4-things-you-can-never-recover-the-stone-after-the-throw/) [Jerhia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerhia/) ## 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/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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