--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Remember that you ought to behave in life…" description: "\"Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at a banquet. As something is being passed around it comes to you; stretch out your hand, take a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/epictetus-413_banquet_remember-that-you-ought-to-behave-in-lif_2497776.jpg" --- # Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at… ![“Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at a banquet. As something is being passed around it comes to you; stretch out your hand, take a portion of it politely. It passes on; do not detain it. Or it has not come to you yet; do not project your desire to meet it, but wait until it…” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/epictetus-413_banquet_remember-that-you-ought-to-behave-in-lif_2497776.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/epictetus-413_banquet_remember-that-you-ought-to-behave-in-lif_2497776.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/epictetus-413_banquet_remember-that-you-ought-to-behave-in-lif_2497776.jpg) > “Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at a banquet. As something is being passed around it comes to you; stretch out your hand, take a portion of it politely. It passes on; do not detain it. Or it has not come to you yet; do not project your desire to meet it, but wait until it comes in front of you. So act toward children, so toward a wife, so toward office, so toward wealth.” [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. Behave with patience and humility, taking what is offered without grasping, and wait for opportunities rather than forcing them. **In simple terms:** Act politely, accept what comes, and wait for the right moment. Key Takeaway Practice patience and humility in all interactions. Themes patience humility self‑control social etiquette Mood calm thoughtful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - dining - child‑rearing - marriage - workplace - financial decisions Key Concepts Stoicism mindfulness ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance patience with taking initiative? - When is it appropriate to assert your desires? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on passivity may hinder proactive initiative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Banquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banquet/) [Banquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banquets/) [Behave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behave/) [Behave Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behave-life-1029823/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Banquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-banquet-696191/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Ought Behave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-behave-1029824/) [Portions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portions/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [“This earth is a garden, this life a banquet, and it's time we realized that it was given to all life, animal and man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-earth-is-a-garden-this-life-a-banquet-and-it-s-time-we-realized/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is best to rise from life as from a banquet, neither thirsty nor drunken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-best-to-rise-from-life-as-from-a-banquet-neither-thirsty-nor/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Once, if my memory serves me well, my life was a banquet where every heart revealed itself, where every wine flowed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/once-if-my-memory-serves-me-well-my-life-was-a-banquet-where-every/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“At life's banquet of success I may not be the guest of honor, but I'll be among those present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/at-life-s-banquet-of-success-i-may-not-be-the-guest-of-honor-but-i-ll/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [Life is a banquet. Approach it with hunger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/life-is-a-banquet-approach-it-with-hunger/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [If you don't participate, you're just taking up oxygen. (Bunny) Life is a banquet. Approach it with hunger. (Chuck)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/if-you-don-t-participate-you-re-just-taking-up-oxygen-bunny-life-is-a/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [You can lie at a banquet but you have to be honest in the kitchen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stafford/you-can-lie-at-a-banquet-but-you-have-to-be-honest-in-the-kitchen/) [William Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stafford/) > [It is always easier to be an epicure of a small repast than of a banquet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-aumonier/it-is-always-easier-to-be-an-epicure-of-a-small-repast-than-of-a/) [Stacy Aumonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-aumonier/) > [The sun, the earth, love, friends, our very breath are parts of the banquet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sun-the-earth-love-friends-our-very-breath-are-parts-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A banquet is probably the most fatiguing thing in the world except ditch digging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-banquet-is-probably-the-most-fatiguing-thing-in-the-world-except/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The political and commercial morals of the United States are not merely food for laughter, they are an entire banquet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-political-and-commercial-morals-of-the-united-states-are-not/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The whole banquet is in the first spoonful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-whole-banquet-is-in-the-first-spoonful/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [With all your music, loud and lustily, With every dainty joy of sight and smell, Prepare a banquet meet to entertain The Lord of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartley-coleridge/with-all-your-music-loud-and-lustily-with-every-dainty-joy-of-sight/) [Hartley Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartley-coleridge/) > [It needs only a good bottle of wine for a roast chicken to be transformed into a banquet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-asher/it-needs-only-a-good-bottle-of-wine-for-a-roast-chicken-to-be/) [Gerald Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-asher/) > [So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er, The dreadful reckn'ning, and men smile no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/so-comes-a-reck-ning-when-the-banquet-s-o-er-the-dreadful-reckn-ning/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) ## 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 Banquet quotes > [It needs only a good bottle of wine for a roast chicken to be transformed into a banquet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-asher/it-needs-only-a-good-bottle-of-wine-for-a-roast-chicken-to-be/) [Gerald Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-asher/) > [“This earth is a garden, this life a banquet, and it's time we realized that it was given to all life, animal and man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-earth-is-a-garden-this-life-a-banquet-and-it-s-time-we-realized/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With all your music, loud and lustily, With every dainty joy of sight and smell, Prepare a banquet meet to entertain The Lord of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartley-coleridge/with-all-your-music-loud-and-lustily-with-every-dainty-joy-of-sight/) [Hartley Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartley-coleridge/) > [“The banquet of eternal glory is made out of the ingredients of time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-albert-van-ruler/the-banquet-of-eternal-glory-is-made-out-of-the-ingredients-of-time/) [Arnold Albert van Ruler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-albert-van-ruler/) > [Life is a banquet. Approach it with hunger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/life-is-a-banquet-approach-it-with-hunger/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“The tastes of France are changing and we are the last of the banquet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-grimwood/the-tastes-of-france-are-changing-and-we-are-the-last-of-the-banquet/) [Jonathan Grimwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-grimwood/) > [“to a banquet? I am going with you!” And so he sauntered from”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaykh-nazim-adil-al-haqqani/to-a-banquet-i-am-going-with-you-and-so-he-sauntered-from/) [Shaykh Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaykh-nazim-adil-al-haqqani/) > [It is always easier to be an epicure of a small repast than of a banquet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-aumonier/it-is-always-easier-to-be-an-epicure-of-a-small-repast-than-of-a/) [Stacy Aumonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-aumonier/) > [You can lie at a banquet but you have to be honest in the kitchen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stafford/you-can-lie-at-a-banquet-but-you-have-to-be-honest-in-the-kitchen/) [William Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stafford/) > [“The church is God saying: “I’m throwing a banquet, and all these mismatched, messed-up people are invited. Here, have some wine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/the-church-is-god-saying-i-m-throwing-a-banquet-and-all-these/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [So comes a reck'ning when the banquet's o'er, The dreadful reckn'ning, and men smile no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/so-comes-a-reck-ning-when-the-banquet-s-o-er-the-dreadful-reckn-ning/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [“All gain access to the heavenly banquet only through the death of the host.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chambers/all-gain-access-to-the-heavenly-banquet-only-through-the-death-of-the/) [Aaron Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chambers/) > [We should have a banquet on the day haters die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovadia-yosef/we-should-have-a-banquet-on-the-day-haters-die/) [Ovadia Yosef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovadia-yosef/) > [I was at a banquet, and I went into the ladies' room, and I'm in the stall doing my business, and a piece of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-wagner/i-was-at-a-banquet-and-i-went-into-the-ladies-room-and-i-m-in-the/) [Lindsay Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-wagner/) > [“Everyone, at some time or another, sits down to a banquet of consequences. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/everyone-at-some-time-or-another-sits-down-to-a-banquet-of/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) [Browse all 65 Banquet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banquet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at a banquet. 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