mguhlin

Ten Sayings of #Epictetus

 

I asked an AI the following:

What are 10 top sayings of Epictetus from simplest to implement to the most difficult? Place a one word descriptor in front of each saying or lesson. Word the saying in modern language to make it easier to understand and write them at a fifth grade reading level. Put results in table format without footnotes.

Descriptor Modern Phrasing of Epictetus’ Saying
Learning “You can’t learn new things if you think you know everything.”
Freedom “You’re only truly free when you can control yourself.”
Identity “You are not just your looks or your stuff, but what you choose to do.”
Self-Discovery “Tough times show you who you really are.”
Patience “We don’t know why people do what they do, so don’t be quick to judge them.”
Friendship “Finding a true friend when things are bad is very hard.”
Thoughtfulness “Think carefully before you speak or act.”
Perception “It’s not what happens to you, but how you think about it that matters.”
Acceptance “Do your best with what you can control and accept everything else as it happens.”
Self-Mastery “Being in charge of your own thoughts and feelings is the best kind of freedom.”

These sayings, simplified for easier understanding, encapsulate key principles of Stoicism as taught by Epictetus, emphasizing self-control, the importance of inner freedom, and the value of understanding our own perceptions and reactions to the world around us.

I had the idea as I was looking at one of those little Gideon New Testaments with a word followed by a scripture quote. Wouldn’t it be fun to have something similar with Epictetus  or Marcus Aurelius?

Marcus Aurelius Top 10

Prompt

What are 10 top sayings of Marcus Aurelius (Meditations) from simplest to implement to the most difficult? Place a one word descriptor in front of each saying or lesson. Word the saying in modern language to make it easier to understand and write them at a fifth grade reading level. Put results in table format without footnotes, linking the one word descriptor to the citation.

A follow-up prompt

Put them in alpha order of one-word descriptor. Link the one-word descriptor with the citation included

The result:

Descriptor Modern Phrasing of Marcus Aurelius’ Saying
Action “Stop talking about what a good person should be and just be one.”
Anger “Being angry hurts you more than what made you angry.”
Appreciation “Be happy to be alive, to think, and to love every morning.”
Beauty “Life is beautiful. Look at the stars and feel like you’re running with them.”
Control “You can decide how you think and feel, not what happens outside.”
Fate “Love the life you have and the people in it with all your heart.”
Perspective “What we hear is just someone’s idea, not the whole truth.”
Revenge “The best way to deal with someone who hurt you is to be nothing like them.”
Self-Reflection “Your true self is about what you think, not just your body or breath.”
Thoughts “Your happiness depends on how you think about things.”
Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure

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