The Stoic Quotes

“constantly keeping in mind the truth that external things being beyond our power and subject to fortune are unimportant, to laugh rather than weep at the follies and vices of the multitude,”
― Francis Caldwell Holland, The Stoic: A biography of Seneca

“Not out of ivory only [he tells us] was Phidias skilled in making statues, he made them of bronze; if you brought marble or any cheaper material to him he would turn it to the best use of which it was capable. So, if riches fall to him, the wise man will display his wisdom amidst riches, if not, then in poverty; if he can, in his native country, if not, then in exile; if he can, as a general, if not, then as a soldier; if he can, in health, if not, then in sickness. Whatever fortune befall him, he will carve out of it something memorable.”
― Francis Caldwell Holland, The Stoic: A biography of Seneca

“We are only as miserable as we think ourselves. We are free, because all our actions are in our own power, and if we are ready to sacrifice our external possessions, including among them our bodies, rather than lose this freedom, it cannot be taken from us. Other men may have power over our bodies — indeed every man has that if he chooses to exert it without regard to consequences — they can have none over ourselves. 'Vindica te tibi' — claim to be lord of yourself, make good your claim to be free for your own sake, subject not our will to another's, wrote”
― Francis Caldwell Holland, The Stoic: A biography of Seneca

“What is Liberty? — to be the slave of no want, of no chance, to meet Fortune on equal terms; but if a man desire or fear external things he is so far the slave of him who has them to give or to withhold.”
― Francis Caldwell Holland, The Stoic: A biography of Seneca

“I will be pleasant to my friends, mild and placable to my enemies, I will forgive before my forgiveness is asked, I will satisfy all honest petitions. I shall know that the world is my country with the gods as its rulers, and these I shall regard as the judges of all I do and all I say. And so whenever Nature takes once more my spirit to herself, or when my reason releases it, I shall go hence bearing witness that I have loved a good conscience and a good manner of life, and that none through me have suffered loss of liberty, myself least of all.' ”
― Francis Caldwell Holland, The Stoic: A biography of Seneca

“I shall consider all land as if it were mine; my own land as if it belonged to all. I shall live as knowing that I am born for others; and for this I shall give thanks to Nature. For how could she better have consulted my interests? She gave me to all men; but she has given all men to me.”
― Francis Caldwell Holland, The Stoic: A biography of Seneca

“I am not a wise man, and, so please your malice, I never shall be. I therefore do not claim to be equal with the best, but only better than the worst. Enough for me if every day I make some little progress, and can clearly see and denounce my own errors. I am not cured; I never shall be cured. I contrive palliations rather than remedies for my malady; and am content if its attacks become gradually rarer.”
― Francis Caldwell Holland, The Stoic: A biography of Seneca

“A happy life [he says] is founded in a freedom from concern and an abiding tranquillity. These”
― Francis Caldwell Holland, The Stoic: A biography of Seneca

“This is the sort of thing we veterans should learn, we are all of us planting olive yards for the benefit of those who come after us. [”
― Francis Caldwell Holland, The Stoic: A biography of Seneca