After hearing author Ryan Holiday on a podcast, I was intrigued with his knowledge of Stoicism and just how the philosophy aligned with my core values. After purchasing The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living and Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius I decided to document my journey. Here I will share my anecdote while learning and reflecting on Stoicism and how I plan to apply it to my life.
“Don't act grudgingly, selfishly, without due diligence, or to be a contrarian. Also, don't overdress your thought in fine language. Don't be a person of too many words and too many deeds … Be cheerful, not wanting outside help or the relief others might bring. A person needs to stand on their own, not be propped up.”
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 3.5
“Atreus: Who would reject the flood of fortune's gifts? Thyestes: Anyone who has experienced how easily they flow back.”
- Seneca, Thyestes, 536
“Throw out your conceited opinions, for it is impossible for a person to begin to learn what he thinks he already knows.”
- Epictetus, Discourses, 2.17.1
“It isn't events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgments about them.”
- Epictetus, Enchiridion, 5
“From the very beginning, make it your practice to say to every harsh impression, ‘you are an impression and not at all what you appear to be.’ Next, examine and test it by the rules you possess, the first and greatest of which is this — whether it belongs to the things in our control or not in our control, and if the latter, be prepared to respond, ‘It is nothing to me.’”
- Epictetus, Enchiridion, 1.5
“When it comes to money, where we feel our clear interest, we have an entire art where the tester uses many means to discover the worth … just as we give great attention to judging things that might steer us badly. But when it comes to our own ruling principle, we yawn and doze off, accepting any appearance that flashes by without counting the cost.”
- Epictetus, Discourses, 1.20.8; 11