Stories for Parents, Children and Grandchildren – Volume 1

Enjoy your memories,' says the old man. 'But don't forget that memory is like salt: the right amount brings out the flavour in food, too much ruins it. If you live in the past all the time, you'll find yourself with no present to remember.'

Epictetus (55 A.D.-135 A.D.) was born a slave and became one of the great philosophers of Rome. He was expelled from the city in 94 A.D. and it was while in exile that he came up with a way of teaching his followers. Here is an extract from his Art of Living.

we want something, life will guide us there, but by unexpected paths. We often feel confused because we are surprised by those paths and think we must be going in the wrong direction. That is why I said, allow yourself to be carried away by emotion, but have enough discipline to follow it through.

Beauty remains, but pain passes.

'When you want something, concentrate only on that: no one will ever hit a target they cannot see.'

voice emerged from the forest and echoed through the city and was heard by everyone.
'How can he possibly w

Brother Krishna, my teacher wants to see you. Please show yourself!'

The teacher, the students and the assistant all burst out laughing.

There are no gods in the forest, that's pure superstition,' said the teacher. 'If he exists, let's all go and see him.'

Krishna, the God of the forest, gave it to me.'