More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“He who studies with a philosopher,” Seneca says, “should take away with him some one good thing every day: he should daily return home a sounder man, or in the way to become sounder.”
In Stoicism, what you do with the given circumstances matters much more. Stoics recognized that the good life depends on the cultivation of one’s character, on one’s choices and actions rather than on what happens in the uncontrollable world around us.
We’re responsible for not letting our happiness depend on external circumstances—we shouldn’t let the rain, annoying strangers, or a leaking washing machine decide upon our wellbeing.
“If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.” – Marcus Aurelius
“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” – Epictetus
“Dig within. Within is the wellspring of Good; and it is always ready to bubble up, if you just dig.” – Marcus Aurelius
eudaimonia is a happy and smoothly flowing life that comes from thriving at bringing our moment-to-moment actions into harmony with our highest self.
“To bear trials with a calm mind robs misfortune of its strength and burden.” – Seneca
Stoicism has nothing to do with suppressing or hiding one’s emotions or being emotionless. Rather, it’s about acknowledging our emotions, reflecting on what causes them, and learning to redirect them for our own good. In other words, it’s more about unslaving ourselves from negative emotions, more like taming rather than getting rid of them.
“I made a prosperous voyage when I suffered shipwreck.” – Zeno of Citium
“If you must live in a palace, then you can also live well in a palace.”
“If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favorable.” – Seneca
“Since every man dies, it is better to die with distinction than to live long.” – Musonius Rufus
“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.” – Epictetus
“It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.” – Marcus Aurelius
Live with Areté: Express your highest self in every moment. If we want to be on good terms with our highest self, we need to close the gap between what we’re capable of and what we’re actually doing.
Focus on What You Control: This is the most prominent principle in Stoicism. At all times, we need to focus on the things we control, and take the rest as it happens.
Take Responsibility: Good and bad come solely from yourself.
“A good character is the only guarantee of everlasting, carefree happiness.” – Seneca
“Expressing the highest version of yourself moment to moment to moment.”
living in agreement with nature.
We negate our very humanity and fall to the state of a sheep when we let our actions become impulsive and inconsiderate.
“When our actions are combative, mischievous, angry, and rude, do we not fall away and become wild beasts?"
Wisdom is about understanding how to act and feel appropriately. Wisdom includes excellent deliberation, healthy judgment, perspective, and good sense. It opposes the vice of folly or thoughtlessness.
Justice is about knowing how to act and feel well in our relationships with others. Justice includes good-heartedness, integrity, public service, and fairness. It opposes the vice of wrongdoing or injustice.
Our social duty is to feel a concern for all mankind, to work together, and to help each other. “For all that I do,” says Marcus, “should be directed to this single end, the common benefit and harmony.”
The so-called Stoic dichotomy of control—some things are up to us, other things are not—is really about the recognition of three levels of influence we have over the world: High influence: Our choices in judgments and actions Partial influence: Health, wealth, relationships, and outcomes of our behaviors No influence: Weather, ethnicity, and most external circumstances
“God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The Courage to change the things I can, And the Wisdom to know the difference.”
The Stoics want us to cultivate acceptance to whatever happens because most events happen without us having a say in the matter.
“Seek not for events to happen as you wish but rather wish for events to happen as they do and your life will go smoothly.”
“If you want anything good, you must get it from yourself.” – Epictetus
Seneca said, “It is the mind that makes us rich; this goes with us into exile.”
Marcus Aurelius says, “my neighbor’s wickedness would be my own harm: and this was not in god’s intention, to leave my misfortune up to another.”
(1) there is nothing good or bad unless we choose to make it so,
“Let philosophy scrape off your own faults, rather than be a way to rail against the faults of others.” – Seneca.
"What would have become of Hercules, do you think, if there had been no lion, hydra, stag or boar - and no savage criminals to rid the world of? What would he have done in the absence of such challenges?” – Epictetus
Practice 1 The Stoic Art of Acquiescence: Accept And Love Whatever Happens “O world, I am in tune with every note of thy great harmony. For me nothing is early, nothing late, if it be timely for thee. O Nature, all that thy seasons yield is fruit for me.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant,” as Seneca put it.
(I highly recommend you check out this 2-minute YouTube video: The Story of the Chinese Farmer.)
Practice 2 Undertake Actions with a Reserve Clause “I will sail across the ocean, if nothing prevents me.” – Seneca
The reserve clause implies two points: Do your very best to succeed . . . . . . and simultaneously know and accept that the outcome is beyond your direct control.
Practice 3 What Stands in the Way Becomes the Way “The impediment to action advances actions. What stands in the way becomes the way.” – Marcus Aurelius
Imagine a fire. Every obstacle gets consumed and used as fuel. If there’s nothing standing in the way, the fire dies. You are that fire. Nothing really is an obstacle because they only feed you and make you stronger. Marcus Aurelius calls this ability to use obstacles for fuel “turning the obstacle upside down.”
Practice 8 Voluntary Discomfort “But neither a bull nor a noble-spirited man comes to be what he is all at once; he must undertake hard winter training, and prepare himself, and not propel himself rashly into what is not appropriate to him.” – Epictetus
Practice 9 Prepare Yourself for the Day: The Stoic Morning Routine “When you first rise in the morning tell yourself: I will encounter busybodies, ingrates, egomaniacs, liars, the jealous and cranks. They are all stricken with these afflictions because they don’t know the difference between good and evil.” – Marcus Aurelius
“We live in the middle of things which have all been destined to die. Mortal have you been born, to mortals you have given birth. Reckon on everything, expect everything.” Memento mori (remember you are mortal).
