Epictetus Quotes

Love and hunger rule the world. Ergo, to rule the world, one must master love and hunger.

The sense of power is as strong a principle in the mind as the love of pleasure.

Emotions will either serve or master, depending on who is in charge.

I succeeded in using my charms like a weapon; I learned to play with other's hearts and to master my own desires.

I never had, or wished for, power over you. That isn't true, of course. I wanted the greatest power of all. but not advantage, or authority.

There are those who say that temptation can be barricaded beyond the door. The ones who think that stray desires can be driven out of the heart like the moneychangers from the temple. Maybe they can, if you patrol your weak points day and night, don't look, don't smell, don't dream.

He that is master of himself will soon be master of others.

Next to enjoying ourselves, the next greatest pleasure consists in preventing others from enjoying themselves, or, more generally, in the acquisition of power.

Power is not something that can be assumed or discarded at will like underwear.

The concept of power we admire is power over someone else.

Terrible is the fight put up by the senses. Fight bravely! Conquer them you must.

He who can destroy a thing, can control a thing.

Subdue your passion or it will subdue you.

To know is to control.

I just want to conquer people and their souls.

What a man knows is everywhere at war with what he wants.

Man has demonstrated that he is master of everything except his own nature.

I'd rather control someone than be controlled.

I don't want to be too power-hungry.

Nothing is more gratifying to the mind of man than power or dominance.

Power is a very peculiar thing. It's like the ego. The ego's only there to keep you above water. Once we realize something good about ourselves, we have a tendency to abuse the gift.

Make yourself do unpleasant things so as to gain the upper hand of your soul.

I like to be controlled, but that doesn't mean controlled like a dog.

I like to be very much in control.

When it comes to power as it functions between humans, it all comes down to desire. If you know what someone wants, you can control them. It is as simple as that. And the reverse is also true: If you have control over your own desires, no one will ever own you. As humans, we are plagued with desire - it consumes us, it fuels us, it destroys us.