--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Friend, lay hold with a desperate grasp…" description: "\"“Friend, lay hold with a desperate grasp, ere it is too late, on Freedom, on Tranquility, on Greatness of soul!”\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/epictetus-413_desperate_friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-e_2907566.jpg" --- # Friend, lay hold with a desperate grasp, ere it is too… ![“Friend, lay hold with a desperate grasp, ere it is too late, on Freedom, on Tranquility, on Greatness of soul!” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/epictetus-413_desperate_friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-e_2907566.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/epictetus-413_desperate_friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-e_2907566.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/epictetus-413_desperate_friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-e_2907566.jpg) > ““Friend, lay hold with a desperate grasp, ere it is too late, on Freedom, on Tranquility, on Greatness of soul!”” [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. Grasping freedom, tranquility, and greatness early prevents loss of these virtues later. **In simple terms:** Seize virtue promptly. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal freedom and peace. Themes philosophy virtue freedom tranquility Mood calm determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - life planning - stress management Key Concepts Stoicism ethical living Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect your freedom today? - What practices nurture tranquility? A Different Perspective May be idealistic in harsh realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Desperate Grasp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate-grasp-766663/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Hold Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-desperate-2731318/) [Late Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-freedom-4169004/) [Lay Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lay-hold-1020194/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [And now I understand that truth casts a spell of its own, one I'm not sure of how to hold on to, though I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/and-now-i-understand-that-truth-casts-a-spell-of-its-own-one-i-m-not/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Love was death’s only adversary, the only thing powerful enough to combat its clawing, desperate grasp.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-carey/love-was-death-s-only-adversary-the-only-thing-powerful-enough-to/) [Anna Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-carey/) > [ONLY in the release of the seen do you lay hold on the unseen, My little one. Heaven waits for those who are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-j-roberts/only-in-the-release-of-the-seen-do-you-lay-hold-on-the-unseen-my/) [Frances J Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-j-roberts/) > [I make it my rule, to lay hold of light and embrace it, wherever I see it, though held forth by a child or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/i-make-it-my-rule-to-lay-hold-of-light-and-embrace-it-wherever-i-see/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Well, I lay if I get hold of you I'll —”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/well-i-lay-if-i-get-hold-of-you-i-ll/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Have you ever had God lay hold of you in the wee hours and reduce you until you had ‘Nothing left to do but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-maxwell/have-you-ever-had-god-lay-hold-of-you-in-the-wee-hours-and-reduce-you/) [L. E. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-maxwell/) > [Nothing but you can lay hold of my mind, and that can lay hold of nothing but you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/nothing-but-you-can-lay-hold-of-my-mind-and-that-can-lay-hold-of/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [Lay hold of today's task, and you will not depend so much upon tomorrow's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/lay-hold-of-today-s-task-and-you-will-not-depend-so-much-upon/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [We need to lay hold on the feelings and try to control them to keep us from getting into a circumstance that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/we-need-to-lay-hold-on-the-feelings-and-try-to-control-them-to-keep/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [For Christ, both God and man, must lay hold on us in order that there may be a union between Him and us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-chemnitz/for-christ-both-god-and-man-must-lay-hold-on-us-in-order-that-there/) [Martin Chemnitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-chemnitz/) > [What a torment it is to see so much loveliness passing and repassing before us, and yet not dare to lay hold of it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/what-a-torment-it-is-to-see-so-much-loveliness-passing-and-repassing/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Lay hold of something that will help you, and then use it to help somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/lay-hold-of-something-that-will-help-you-and-then-use-it-to-help/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Lay hold of life with both hands, whenever thou mayest seize it, it is interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/lay-hold-of-life-with-both-hands-whenever-thou-mayest-seize-it-it-is/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Begin to lay hold of every minute of your life and convert it into something of value to benefit the world. Never allow any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/begin-to-lay-hold-of-every-minute-of-your-life-and-convert-it-into/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When the situation is desperate, it is too late to be serious. Be playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/when-the-situation-is-desperate-it-is-too-late-to-be-serious-be/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## 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 Desperate quotes > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“I am a desperate romantic. I love the idea of random collisions of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-am-a-desperate-romantic-i-love-the-idea-of-random-collisions-of-the/) [Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She was stupid and lonely. So desperate to be touched and loved with a good love. I need you, don't leave me, you're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/she-was-stupid-and-lonely-so-desperate-to-be-touched-and-loved-with-a/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [The World Health Organisation has a lot of its medical experts sitting in Geneva while hospitals in Africa have no drugs and desperate patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/the-world-health-organisation-has-a-lot-of-its-medical-experts/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [“you think I"m that desperate?" "The raging hard-on jabbing at me says yes." ~Creed/Annika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-croft/you-think-i-m-that-desperate-the-raging-hard-on-jabbing-at-me-says/) [Sydney Croft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-croft/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) [Browse all 1,618 Desperate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Friend, lay hold with a desperate grasp, ere it is too late, on Freedom, on Tranquility, on Greatness of soul!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-ere-it-is-too-late-on-freedom/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desperate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-ere-it-is-too-late-on-freedom/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/epictetus-413_desperate_friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-e_2907566.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/epictetus-413_desperate_friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-e_2907566.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/epictetus-413_desperate_friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-e_2907566.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Friend, lay hold with a desperate grasp, ere it is too late, on Freedom, on Tranquility, on Greatness of soul!” — Epictetus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Epictetus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Friend, lay hold with a desperate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-ere-it-is-too-late-on-freedom/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/friend-lay-hold-with-a-desperate-grasp-ere-it-is-too-late-on-freedom/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```