Being Better Quotes

“Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing. — Zeno of Citium, as quoted by Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers 7.1.261”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Marcus Aurelius said (Meditations 2.112): Death and life, fame and obscurity, wealth and poverty happen to good and bad people in equal measure, being neither right or wrong in themselves and so they are neither good nor bad.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“The finest and most fitting fruits for those who have received a true philosophical education are peace of mind, fearlessness, and freedom. . . .Thus,, none but the educated can be free. — Epictetus, Discourses 2.1.21–23”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“man separates himself from his neighbor by his own hatred or rejection, not realizing that he has thereby severed himself from the wider society of fellow citizens. — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.8”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Remember that everyone has four roles. The first and primary role is the simple fact of being a rational human being. The second is shaped by your individual nature: your likes, dislikes, personality traits, and odd quirks. The third is embodied by your personal circumstances. The fourth relates to the path you wish to take in life. •​Given your four roles, how would you combine them to most effectively journey toward eudaimonia?”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“John Sellars in his book Hellenistic Philosophy (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2018), in which he says: “It may be that I will not, and cannot act other than I do. Yet the act is still mine . . . and not forced upon me.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Stoicism occupies the middle ground between “destiny is completely determined by a causal chain” and “destiny is formed at random.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Some things are within our power, while others are not. Within our power are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is of our own doing; not within our power are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, whatever is not of our own doing. — Epictetus, Enchiridion 1.1”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Stoicism has always been a self-help philosophy with a twist, precisely because it helps us to develop the critical thinking skills and moral accountability that stop us from mistaking feeling better with being better. As Zeno taught, being better means that we are more intentional in our progress toward living virtuously.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Stoicism is a big tent that caters to all walks of life, but people who are only interested in themselves and refuse to engage in anything that might perturb their peace are not pursuing Stoicism. They are pursuing Epicureanism.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“When deciding upon an appropriate course of action, context is key. Whatever we decide, in any situation, is secondary to the process of rationally arriving at the answer according to the facts at hand.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“character is the only guarantee you have of succeeding in life, and that strength of character matters most when the odds are stacked against you.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“As this journey toward eudaimonia continues, we arrive at a point where we stop comparing ourselves to others. Perhaps we stop repeating over and over, “Why do I keep making the same mistakes?” or, “Why is it so much easier for everyone else?” Instead, we ask ourselves, “Is this what a wise person would do?” or, “Is this what a wise person would see as fair?” Eventually, we follow these questions with the affirmation, “I am going to set out to do what a wise person would do,” and then we act in ways that demonstrate this commitment, which is a victory in and of itself.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Life is simply the canvas upon which we paint. As with art, the way we apply the brushstrokes, the colors we use, and the scene we draw are what give our work value and meaning. In other words, what we do with our life is what matters, which is why the Stoics were interested in teaching us how to live, which includes how to approach death.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Zeno died in the following way. As he was leaving the school, he tripped and broke his finger. Smiting the ground with his hand, he uttered, “I am coming. Why do you call for me?” and died instantly by holding his breath. — Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers 7.28–29”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Frans de Waal: The way our bodies are. . .influenced by surrounding bodies is one of the mysteries of human existence, but one that provides the glue that holds entire societies together. . . .We occupy nodes within a tight network that connects all of us in both body and mind.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“[The objective of life is] to live contemplating the truth and order of all things together and helping in promoting it as far as possible, in no way being led by the irrational part of the soul. — Posidonius, as cited by Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 2.21”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Panaetius established the Stoic idea that everyone has four roles. The first and primary role is given to us by the virtue of being a rational human being, that is, someone who is able to reason; it is universal to everyone.* The second is shaped by our individual nature: our likes, dislikes, personality traits, and odd quirks. The third is dependent on our personal circumstances, which include where we were born, where we now live, whether we have children or elderly parents, and how much money or social influence we have. The fourth relates to the professional path we wish to take in life. It includes our career choices, the job that we are trained to do, and the corresponding knowledge that we acquire.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“No one, whether a general in war or a leading statesperson at home, could have accomplished deeds of great service without the support of his fellow human beings. Their great achievements would not have been possible without the cooperation of others. — Panaetius of Rhodes, as quoted by Cicero, De Officiis 2.16”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Chris Fisher points out, the seas of our life are smooth and the winds are calm and steady, blowing in the direction of our desires. On the contrary, only when the sea swirls and a storm erupts are we suddenly afforded an opportunity to learn how to avoid the rocks. Once we come to grips with that truth, fortune ceases to be the enemy and becomes our guide.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Stoic metaphor illustrates: When a dog is tied to a cart, if it wants to follow, it is pulled and follows, making its spontaneous act coincide with necessity. But if the dog does not follow, it will be compelled in any case. So it is with men [and women] too: even if they don’t want to, they will be compelled to follow what is destined.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Lead me Zeus, and thou O Destiny. Lead me wherever your laws assign me. . . . Fate guides the willing but drags the unwilling. — Cleanthes, The Hymn to Zeus”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Evil consists in injustice, cruelty, and indifference to a neighbor’s trouble, while virtue is brotherly love, goodness, justice, beneficence, and concern for the welfare of one’s neighbor. — Musonius Rufus, Discourses, Lecture 14.9”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“Nothing in Stoicism is merely done for our own sake. In fact, a Stoic would go as far as to say that if our thoughts, actions, and attitude do not benefit the whole (world, country, community, family, and so on), then we are very much mistaken in thinking that they will benefit us!”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In

“A principle is a proposition or value that guides our thoughts, actions, and judgment. It is the essence of our moral operating system, and not unlike a compass, it directs our steps.”
― Kai Whiting, Being Better: Stoicism for a World Worth Living In