--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No person is free who is not master of…" description: "\"“No person is free who is not master of themselves.”\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/epictetus-413_excellence_no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-t_2869630.jpg" --- # No person is free who is not master of themselves. ![“No person is free who is not master of themselves.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/epictetus-413_excellence_no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-t_2869630.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/epictetus-413_excellence_no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-t_2869630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/epictetus-413_excellence_no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-t_2869630.jpg) > ““No person is free who is not master of themselves.”” [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. True freedom comes from self‑mastery, not external circumstances. **In simple terms:** Freedom is self‑control. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑discipline and inner autonomy. Themes freedom self‑mastery autonomy Mood determined steady Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - goal setting - habit formation - stress management Key Concepts stoic philosophy personal agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain self‑control under pressure? - What habits reinforce personal autonomy? A Different Perspective External events can still disrupt inner peace despite self‑mastery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-master-1432510/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/master/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Person Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-free-296529/) ## Related quotes > [No man is free who is not master of himself... Is freedom anything else than the power of living as we choose?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/no-man-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-himself-is-freedom-anything-else/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [No man is free who is not master of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/no-man-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-himself/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [God has entrusted me with myself. No man is free who is not master of himself. A man should so live that his happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/god-has-entrusted-me-with-myself-no-man-is-free-who-is-not-master-of/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“no man is free until he s a master of himself!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictitus/no-man-is-free-until-he-s-a-master-of-himself/) [Epictitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictitus/) > [Feel free to call me by my first name: Master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/feel-free-to-call-me-by-my-first-name-master/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Please, we're all friends here. Feel free to call me by my first name: Master.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/please-we-re-all-friends-here-feel-free-to-call-me-by-my-first-name/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [No person is free until he or she is free at the center. When we let go there, we are free indeed. When the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/no-person-is-free-until-he-or-she-is-free-at-the-center-when-we-let/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [In the traditional view, a person is free. He is autonomous in the sense that his behavior is uncaused. He can therefore be held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/in-the-traditional-view-a-person-is-free-he-is-autonomous-in-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [“I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person now I was free. There was such glory over everything. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-tubman/i-looked-at-my-hands-to-see-if-i-was-the-same-person-now-i-was-free/) [Harriet Tubman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-tubman/) > [What did it mean for a person to be free? Even if you managed to escape from one cage, weren't you just in another,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-did-it-mean-for-a-person-to-be-free-even-if-you-managed-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Such is the cost of immortality. No person is whole. No person is free. Over time, some have determined that the only way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/such-is-the-cost-of-immortality-no-person-is-whole-no-person-is-free/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [I like to help others and count it as my greatest pleasure in life to see a person free himself of the shadows which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/i-like-to-help-others-and-count-it-as-my-greatest-pleasure-in-life-to/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [“What did it mean for a person to be free? she would often ask herself. Even if you managed to escape from one cage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/what-did-it-mean-for-a-person-to-be-free-she-would-often-ask-herself/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [And the Buddha is the person who's free: free of plans, free of cares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/and-the-buddha-is-the-person-who-s-free-free-of-plans-free-of-cares/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [“If a person is not free, his right is restricted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-a-person-is-not-free-his-right-is-restricted/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## 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 Excellence quotes > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) [Philip Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-selznick/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“No person is free who is not master of themselves.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-themselves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-themselves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/epictetus-413_excellence_no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-t_2869630.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/epictetus-413_excellence_no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-t_2869630.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/epictetus-413_excellence_no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-t_2869630.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No person is free who is not master of themselves.” — 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": "“No person is free who is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-themselves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/no-person-is-free-who-is-not-master-of-themselves/#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 } } ] } ```