Epictetus

Epictetus (c. 50 - c. 135 AD) was a Greek Stoic philosopher born into slavery in Hierapolis (modern Turkey). After securing his freedom in Rome, he studied under Musonius Rufus and began teaching. Banished from Rome by Emperor Domitian, he relocated to Greece and established a renowned academy. Epictetus wrote nothing down himself; his profound insights on inner freedom survive entirely through his student Arrian, who transcribed the master's lecture notes into two seminal public domain books: The Discourses, a detailed exploration of daily ethics, and The Enchiridion (The Handbook), a concise guide to psychological resilience.