Musonius Rufus Quotes
Gaius Musonius Rufus was a Roman Stoic philosopher and the teacher of Epictetus. Twice exiled by emperors who feared his moral influence, he insisted that philosophy is for everyone and held that women, like men, should study it. The quotes below are attributed to Musonius Rufus, organized by topic.
Musonius Rufus on Happiness
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Attributed to Musonius Rufus:
“It is not he who has many possessions who is rich, but he who has few wants.”
Musonius Rufus on Knowledge
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Attributed to Musonius Rufus:
“Women have received from the gods the same ability to reason that men have.”
Musonius Rufus on Mind
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Attributed to Musonius Rufus:
“Every distress is mitigated by reason.”
Musonius Rufus on Virtue
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Attributed to Musonius Rufus:
“Few are the days during which we shall not need to be reminded of what we have to bear.”
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Attributed to Musonius Rufus:
“We should keep ourselves in such fitness for any kind of labor that even the unaccustomed shall be easy for us.”
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Attributed to Musonius Rufus:
“If you accomplish something good with hard work, the labor passes quickly, but the good endures.”