Epictetus

Epictetus (c. 55–c. 135) was a Greek Stoic philosopher, born in Hierapolis in Phrygia (in present-day Turkey) and died in Nicopolis, Greece. He was enslaved in his youth; after being freed he taught in Rome until the emperor Domitian expelled him in 90 CE, after which he continued teaching at Nicopolis. His teachings were compiled by his pupil Arrian into the Discourses and the Enchiridion, which survive today. Five of his works are held in this collection, including the Enchiridion, The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, and a selection from the Discourses. His writing consists mainly of short maxims and dialogue-style exposition, in plain, direct language that stresses virtue and inner freedom, and it has had a lasting influence on the transmission of Stoicism.