How to Be a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living

by Massimo Pigliucci

the point of life for human beings is to use reason to build the best society that it is humanly possible to build.

Stoics occupy the logical space in between these two positions: health, wealth, education, and good looks—among other things—are preferred indifferents, while their opposites—and a number of other things—are dispreferred indifferents. This, I think, was a stroke of genius. The Stoics made a eudaimonic life a reachable goal for everyone, regardless of social status, financial resources, physical health, or degree of attractiveness.

Better to endure pain in an honorable manner than to seek joy in a shameful one.

nothing can be traded if the price is the compromising of your character.

it appears that much of our diverging metaphysics makes little difference to what we think is important in life, or to how we behave toward others.

You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.

a friendship of the good is that rare phenomenon when two people enjoy each other for their own sake because they find in each other an affinity of character that does not require externalities like a business exchange or a hobby. In those cases, our friends become, as Aristotle famously put it, mirrors to our souls, helping us grow and become better persons just because they care about us.