Epictetus... Greek Philosopher.

Epictetus was a Greek speaking Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia, and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in north-western Greece for the rest of his life. Wikipedia

Born in 55 AD, Hierapolis, Turkey and died in 135 AD, Nicopolis, Greece
Influenced: Marcus Aurelius, Arrian, Han Ryner, Albert Ellis, James Stockdale, Junius Rusticus

Influenced by: Socrates, Zeno of Citium, Diogenes of Sinope, Chrysippus, Cleanthes, Hippocrates

Epictetus was born a slave and he obtained his freedom some time after the death of Nero in 68 A.D.  While he was a slave he was permitted to study philosophy and gained kudos in the community for his excellent scholarly achievements.

Epictetus now free, taught philosophy in Rome. Approximately 93 A.D. Emperor Domitian banished all of the philosophers from the city of Rome and so this caused Epictetus to flee the tyranny and return to the safety of Greece.  When established in Greece, he set up a philosophical school of his own in  Nicopolis in Epirus.

No writings are available the of work of Epictetus himself.  However thanks to his beloved pupil Arrian, Epictetus's discourses were transcribed and compiled.  The Discourses  are four of the preserved books left of the original eight books.  Arrian compiled a digest as well - the Enchiridion, or Handbook. 

In a preface to the Discourses, addressed to Lucius Gellius, Arrian states clearly he is referring to his teacher Epictetus:

"Whatever I heard him say I used to write down, word for word, as best I could, endeavoring to preserve it as a memorial, for my own future use, of his way of thinking and the frankness of his speech."

Epictetus was of a breed called Stoic Philosophers.  I would say I hold very similar beliefs to the Stoic ideology.  Read More HERE on Stoic Philosophy