--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So what Epictetus was telling his…" description: "\"“So what Epictetus was telling his students was that there can be no such thing as being the \"victim\" of another. You can only be a \"victim\" of yoursel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/james-b-stockdale-84280_epictetus_so-what-epictetus-was-telling-his-studen_2771528.jpg" --- # So what Epictetus was telling his students was that there… ![“So what Epictetus was telling his students was that there can be no such thing as being the "victim" of another. You can only be a "victim" of yourself. It's all in how you discipline your mind. Who” quote by James B. Stockdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/james-b-stockdale-84280_epictetus_so-what-epictetus-was-telling-his-studen_2771528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/james-b-stockdale-84280_epictetus_so-what-epictetus-was-telling-his-studen_2771528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/james-b-stockdale-84280_epictetus_so-what-epictetus-was-telling-his-studen_2771528.jpg) > ““So what Epictetus was telling his students was that there can be no such thing as being the "victim" of another. You can only be a "victim" of yourself. It's all in how you discipline your mind. Who”” James B. Stockdale ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑victimization stems from lack of mental discipline; true victimhood is self‑inflicted. **In simple terms:** You are only your own victim if you lack self‑control. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental discipline to avoid self‑victimization. Themes self‑control philosophy personal responsibility mindset Mood thoughtful encouraging Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - stress management - goal setting - personal development Key Concepts stoicism self‑mastery Questions to Reflect On - How do you practice mental discipline? - What habits reinforce self‑victimization? A Different Perspective Changing mindset is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epictetus/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) ## Related quotes > [Crime is not the problem of the victim, the victim didn't create the crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/crime-is-not-the-problem-of-the-victim-the-victim-didn-t-create-the/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [“Once a victim, always victim-that's the law”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harding/once-a-victim-always-victim-that-s-the-law/) Thomas Harding > [A victim is a victim is a victim. We should stop setting up standards that say we will have one standard of law enforcement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/a-victim-is-a-victim-is-a-victim-we-should-stop-setting-up-standards/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [“Once victim, always victim-that's the law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/once-victim-always-victim-that-s-the-law/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [The Human Rights Act has not just given a voice to victims, but to the families who have to fight for the victim where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-human-rights-act-has-not-just-given-a-voice-to-victims-but-to-the/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [A common misperception of me is that I am a victim. I am not a victim. I am just honest about how things affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-vine/a-common-misperception-of-me-is-that-i-am-a-victim-i-am-not-a-victim/) [Stella Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-vine/) > [The thing that most people didn't understand, if they weren't in his line if work, was that a rape victim and a victim of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-thing-that-most-people-didn-t-understand-if-they-weren-t-in-his/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [If I don't see myself as a victim, then I'm not a victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noomi-rapace/if-i-don-t-see-myself-as-a-victim-then-i-m-not-a-victim/) [Noomi Rapace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noomi-rapace/) > [I've never ever attacked someone who's been the victim who's been the victim of sexual abuse. Not only that, I've put people in jail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-ve-never-ever-attacked-someone-who-s-been-the-victim-who-s-been-the/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [“There is another part of us that receives the judgments, and this part is called the Victim. The Victim carries the blame, the guilt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/there-is-another-part-of-us-that-receives-the-judgments-and-this-part/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [“Epictetus is reminding you that serenity and stability are results of your choices and judgment, not your environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/epictetus-is-reminding-you-that-serenity-and-stability-are-results-of/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“If you wish to be a writer; write! Send quote to a friend Epictetus (50-120) Greek philosopher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-wish-to-be-a-writer-write-send-quote-to-a-friend-epictetus-50/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“What would Heracles have been if he had said, "How am I to prevent a big lion from appearing, or a big boar, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-would-heracles-have-been-if-he-had-said-how-am-i-to-prevent-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Only the educated are free. --Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-the-educated-are-free-epictetus/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Loving your fate and joyful acceptance Epictetus actually describes a three-stage process to his students, which relates to the discipline of desire. He begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-j-robertson/loving-your-fate-and-joyful-acceptance-epictetus-actually-describes-a/) [Donald J. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-j-robertson/) ## More by James B. Stockdale > [“Epictetus: "The judgment seat and a prison is each a place, the one high, the other low; but the attitude of your will can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-b-stockdale/epictetus-the-judgment-seat-and-a-prison-is-each-a-place-the-one-high/) James B. Stockdale > [“Integrity is a powerful word that derives from a specific concept. It describes a person who is integrated, blended into a whole, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-b-stockdale/integrity-is-a-powerful-word-that-derives-from-a-specific-concept-it/) James B. Stockdale Explore all 3 James B. Stockdale quotes ## More Epictetus quotes > [“Loving your fate and joyful acceptance Epictetus actually describes a three-stage process to his students, which relates to the discipline of desire. He begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-j-robertson/loving-your-fate-and-joyful-acceptance-epictetus-actually-describes-a/) [Donald J. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-j-robertson/) > [Only the educated are free. --Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-the-educated-are-free-epictetus/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What would Heracles have been if he had said, "How am I to prevent a big lion from appearing, or a big boar, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-would-heracles-have-been-if-he-had-said-how-am-i-to-prevent-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“If you wish to be a writer; write! Send quote to a friend Epictetus (50-120) Greek philosopher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-wish-to-be-a-writer-write-send-quote-to-a-friend-epictetus-50/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Epictetus is reminding you that serenity and stability are results of your choices and judgment, not your environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/epictetus-is-reminding-you-that-serenity-and-stability-are-results-of/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing. However, if we are intelligent yet unhappy, then perhaps we are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in-intelligent-people-is-the/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“Use, do not abuse; the wise man arrange things so. I flee Epictetus and Petronius alike. Neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/use-do-not-abuse-the-wise-man-arrange-things-so-i-flee-epictetus-and/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/change-your-life-publishing/the-key-is-to-keep-company-only-with-people-who-uplift-you-whose/) [Change Your Life Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/change-your-life-publishing/) > [“Asked how a man should best grieve his enemy, Epictetus replied, "By setting himself to live the noblest life himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/asked-how-a-man-should-best-grieve-his-enemy-epictetus-replied-by/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Asked, Who is the rich man? Epictetus replied, �He who is content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/asked-who-is-the-rich-man-epictetus-replied-he-who-is-content/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“As Epictetus said centuries ago, “It is impossible to begin to learn what one thinks one already knows.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/as-epictetus-said-centuries-ago-it-is-impossible-to-begin-to-learn/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” - Epictetus By”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-martine/it-s-not-what-happens-to-you-but-how-you-react-to-it-that-matters/) Ali Martine > [“Show your character and commitment through your actions,” Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ballantyne/show-your-character-and-commitment-through-your-actions-epictetus/) [Craig Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ballantyne/) > [There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will. -Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/there-is-only-one-way-to-happiness-and-that-is-to-cease-worrying-2/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [“Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."   - Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-crosby/circumstances-don-t-make-the-man-they-only-reveal-him-to-himself-2/) [Dennis Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-crosby/) [Browse all 22 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epictetus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So what Epictetus was telling his students was that there can be no such thing as being the \"victim\" of another. 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