How to Be a Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living

by Massimo Pigliucci

If philosophy was not useful to human life, then it wasn’t useful at all.

“Make the best use3 of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens. Some things are up to us and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions—in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing.”

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

if we understand the ancient Greek concept of amathia, we know that it is more helpful to think of people who do bad things as mistaken and therefore to be pitied and helped if possible, not condemned as evil.

“Logic defeats anger, because anger, even when it’s justified, can quickly become irrational. So use cold hard logic on yourself.”

A good man delights in receiving advice: all the worst men are the most impatient of guidance.