Marcus Aurelius ,A literal GOD level stoic who declined pleasure and decided to rule the world virtuously im wondering how he practiced stocism when someone hurt him with words or someone insulted him publicly , i feel like like u yourself wont get hurt or can decide to not get hurt but when ppl are watching ur expected to say smth abt it to save ur reputation and whatnot u know,So what do u do in such a situation?

We seek Stoic guidance when we ask important questions, but most chatbots fall short because they draw from scattered internet sources rather than directly from Stoic texts.

With SageMind, you can ask a question, and it finds and shares the most relevant passages from Meditations to give you practical advice on approaching your situation with a Stoic mindset.

sagemind.chat

Right now, SageMind only draws wisdom from Meditations, but if it is useful it’s possible to expand it to use the knowledge of other texts like Epictetus’s Enchiridion and Seneca’s Letters.

My article is now published! I haven’t told many people about this, but now it’s time to share with everyone. 

I wrote a piece about how poetry has been an intimate and healthy way for me to move through difficult times and experiences. The article contains a backstory about where my fascination and passion for poetry started, as well as 9 poems with commentary and some book suggestions.

Writing this article is what inspired me to explore commentary as a useful reflection method, and I truly hope that you are finding the poems and commentary useful. I’m grateful to the Modern Stoicism website for hosting my poetry and self-analysis. 

If you’re interested in learning more about my introspective journey through poetry, here’s the link to the article: https://modernstoicism.com/the-way-how-writing-poetry-inspired-by-stoicism-changed-my-life-by-gunther-hammel/

Thank you all for being here along for the ride with me. It has been a delight to share my work with this community, and I look forward to continuing. 

🤜💥🤛 

This sub is intended to serve primarily as an archive for posts about Stoicism in practice. These may include formal exercises, personal battles and victories (however big or small), examples from others, explanations, et cetera. The goal is to focus on the "first area":

​

> The first and most necessary area of study in philosophy is the one that deals with the application of principles, such as, "Don't lie." The second deals with demonstrations, for instance, "How is it that we oughtn't to lie?" The third confirms and analyses the other two, for instance, "How is this a demonstration?" For what is a demonstration, what is logical consequence, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood? The third area of study is necessary, then, because of the second, and the second because of the first, but the most necessary, and that on which we should dwell, is the first. But we do the opposite; for we spend our time on the third area of study, and employ all our efforts on that, while wholly neglecting the first. And so it comes about that we lie, while having at hand all the arguments that show why we oughtn't to lie. (Epictetus, Enchiridion 52.1, translated by Robin Hard)

​

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Additionally, here are some ancient and modern resource suggestions:

1. Epictetus, the Discourses, Enchiridion, and Fragments
2. Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius
3. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
4. What are some Stoic practices and exercises? from r/Stoicism's FAQ
5. The Stoic Therapy eLibrary
6. Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman
7. Applied Stoic Theory - A Compilation by u/runeaway
8. Stoicism for a Better Life by u/yourusersmanual
9. Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Fragments

​

If you would like to submit a post, please review the subreddit rules.

How do you know what you're doing is right if you've never done wrong?

How do you know what you're doing is good if you've never done anything bad?

You don't - and that's the point Seneca is harping on when he says:

"For he who does not know that he has sinned does not desire correction; you must discover yourself in the wrong before you can reform yourself.

Prove yourself guilty, hunt up charges against yourself, play the part, first of accuser, then of judge, last of intercessor. At times be harsh with yourself."

~ Seneca (Letter 28, On Travel as a Cure for Discontent)

If you don't know you've done bad, you'll never seek to correct yourself, to change for the better, and to aim to to make sure you repeat no wrong.

So, how do you discover yourself according to Seneca? By being harsh with ourselves, because when we're harsh with ourselves, we'll see what's wrong, what's bad, what's good, and what's right. The entire aim in being harsh with ourselves is to hold ourselves accountable for actions, good and bad. When we hold ourselves accountable for bad actions, we'll realize it was bad, take responsibility and attempt to not do that action again.

And that's also not to say that you should purposefully do bad. Don't go out and rob a store and end up in prison to know that robbing a store is wrong. There's some things that we know is wrong to do. But, as we live our lives, we'll slowly see the faults in our actions of things less obvious...slowly.

And when that happens, we'll have the ability to recognize them and correct it.

P.S. If you like the writeup, I've also been making videos about Stoicism and philosophy in general for about a year - come check it out :) Betwixt Philosophy

Cheers

Adam

"The person you are matters more than the place to which you go; for that reason we should not make the mind a bondsman to any one place."

~ Seneca (Letter 28, On Travel as a Cure for Discontent)

I just took a trip to Italy! 🟩⬜🟥

And while a vacation could be a preferred indifferent, we need to remember why it's indifferent in the first place.

The purpose of a vacation shouldn't be to get away, shouldn't be to depart from where you are now because you unfavour the circumstances.

Our surroundings don't change us, we change us. It's not the environment that causes us to unfavour our circumstances, but our perspectives toward that environment.

So, naturally, people travel as a cure for discontent or restlessness. You're tired, you're not liking the view from your window, the traffic is getting to you, the people are getting to you and eventually, the bubble pops and you 'try to get away from it all...'

But then what?

After your week or month trip, you're back to those same circumstances.

The same circumstances that caused you to up and go in the first place. Now, there's two ways to work through this - and one is wrong. The first way is to constantly keep changing circumstances.

And this is wrong because you may not be able to, it might not be possible, you'll never be satisfied and always looking for more.

The second? Be content with the circumstances you're in.

A vacation shouldn't be used as a tool to get away, but simply as a means to sight-see, because where you are now is good enough.

A vacation shouldn't be used as a means to be content again, but simply as a means to experience new things, because contentment should come long before then.

P.S. If you like the writeup, I've also been making videos about Stoicism and philosophy in general for about a year - come check it out :) Betwixt Philosophy

Cheers

Adam

?

This sub is intended to serve primarily as an archive for posts about Stoicism in practice. These may include formal exercises, personal battles and victories (however big or small), examples from others, explanations, et cetera. The goal is to focus on the "first area":

​

> The first and most necessary area of study in philosophy is the one that deals with the application of principles, such as, "Don't lie." The second deals with demonstrations, for instance, "How is it that we oughtn't to lie?" The third confirms and analyses the other two, for instance, "How is this a demonstration?" For what is a demonstration, what is logical consequence, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood? The third area of study is necessary, then, because of the second, and the second because of the first, but the most necessary, and that on which we should dwell, is the first. But we do the opposite; for we spend our time on the third area of study, and employ all our efforts on that, while wholly neglecting the first. And so it comes about that we lie, while having at hand all the arguments that show why we oughtn't to lie. (Epictetus, Enchiridion 52.1, translated by Robin Hard)

​

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Additionally, here are some ancient and modern resource suggestions:

1. Epictetus, the Discourses, Enchiridion, and Fragments
2. Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius
3. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
4. What are some Stoic practices and exercises? from r/Stoicism's FAQ
5. The Stoic Therapy eLibrary
6. Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman
7. Applied Stoic Theory - A Compilation by u/runeaway
8. Stoicism for a Better Life by u/yourusersmanual
9. Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Fragments

​

If you would like to submit a post, please review the subreddit rules.

Here’s a link to the book’s site where you will find a detailed explanation of its purpose and inspiration.
To summarize that information, the book is intended to be encouraging to the reader, and for what is read to be of use every day. Each poem is a topic, ranging from community, reflecting, and improvement to vicissitudes, being wronged, and death. They are written in an encouraging tone, but also gets a little spicy at times; never rude, but definitely firm, and usually the firmness is directed at reminding myself to be kind and considerate to myself the same way I try to be to others. Each poem - made of 7 haikus - draws inspiration from the Meditations, Discourses, Letters, and other sources of Stoic philosophy.

Here's a link to my Substack community where I invite all of you to come and discuss the contents of the book. There are a few posts there right now, and I intend to send out a new one every couple of weeks. If you do not have the book, here are the first four poems for you to check out, in addition to the poems I have posted over on the Substack page.

Looking forward to discussing these poems with you! They are all marinated in traditional Stoic philosophy, and I hope you find them useful.

This sub is intended to serve primarily as an archive for posts about Stoicism in practice. These may include formal exercises, personal battles and victories (however big or small), examples from others, explanations, et cetera. The goal is to focus on the "first area":

​

> The first and most necessary area of study in philosophy is the one that deals with the application of principles, such as, "Don't lie." The second deals with demonstrations, for instance, "How is it that we oughtn't to lie?" The third confirms and analyses the other two, for instance, "How is this a demonstration?" For what is a demonstration, what is logical consequence, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood? The third area of study is necessary, then, because of the second, and the second because of the first, but the most necessary, and that on which we should dwell, is the first. But we do the opposite; for we spend our time on the third area of study, and employ all our efforts on that, while wholly neglecting the first. And so it comes about that we lie, while having at hand all the arguments that show why we oughtn't to lie. (Epictetus, Enchiridion 52.1, translated by Robin Hard)

​

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Additionally, here are some ancient and modern resource suggestions:

1. Epictetus, the Discourses, Enchiridion, and Fragments
2. Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius
3. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
4. What are some Stoic practices and exercises? from r/Stoicism's FAQ
5. The Stoic Therapy eLibrary
6. Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman
7. Applied Stoic Theory - A Compilation by u/runeaway
8. Stoicism for a Better Life by u/yourusersmanual
9. Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Fragments

​

If you would like to submit a post, please review the subreddit rules.

As a junior college (17), Over the recent few weeks i was able to discover philosophy and stoicism and this interested me quite a bit, and so i wanted to try to learn more about this, but then i had a thought to myself, an oppurtunity that I wanted to fully maximize,

which is if I wanted to learn more about stoicism then I would learn it in the way of communication, you see I have a major problem which is talking to people or conversing with people, where in, the thoughts that i articulated well aren’t coming out of my mouth as I thought it would, so my ideas and opinions even if they are good or bad have, i have trouble sharing them, I needed experience.

so to get to the point I would like to have a one on one session with you either through phone call/discord/facetime or anything of the like and then we would express thoughts and ideas on philosophy like stoicism or nihilism or cynism or anything of the like, this would then entail me to having better experience on conversing with people.

rom the mastery book by robert greene, its better to discuss ideas with someone like a mentor or a friend than to theorize on your own, and I know some of you guys will say that you can just self teach yourself on this, but you see, self-aprenticeship is limited and I what to truly learn by any means.

You can message me privately if you would like to participate, and you may also set a schedule for this.

And lastly there is also the option of it being a group call, since the more ideas there then the better

This sub is intended to serve primarily as an archive for posts about Stoicism in practice. These may include formal exercises, personal battles and victories (however big or small), examples from others, explanations, et cetera. The goal is to focus on the "first area":

​

> The first and most necessary area of study in philosophy is the one that deals with the application of principles, such as, "Don't lie." The second deals with demonstrations, for instance, "How is it that we oughtn't to lie?" The third confirms and analyses the other two, for instance, "How is this a demonstration?" For what is a demonstration, what is logical consequence, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood? The third area of study is necessary, then, because of the second, and the second because of the first, but the most necessary, and that on which we should dwell, is the first. But we do the opposite; for we spend our time on the third area of study, and employ all our efforts on that, while wholly neglecting the first. And so it comes about that we lie, while having at hand all the arguments that show why we oughtn't to lie. (Epictetus, Enchiridion 52.1, translated by Robin Hard)

​

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Additionally, here are some ancient and modern resource suggestions:

1. Epictetus, the Discourses, Enchiridion, and Fragments
2. Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius
3. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
4. What are some Stoic practices and exercises? from r/Stoicism's FAQ
5. The Stoic Therapy eLibrary
6. Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman
7. Applied Stoic Theory - A Compilation by u/runeaway
8. Stoicism for a Better Life by u/yourusersmanual
9. Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Fragments

​

If you would like to submit a post, please review the subreddit rules.

This sub is intended to serve primarily as an archive for posts about Stoicism in practice. These may include formal exercises, personal battles and victories (however big or small), examples from others, explanations, et cetera. The goal is to focus on the "first area":

​

> The first and most necessary area of study in philosophy is the one that deals with the application of principles, such as, "Don't lie." The second deals with demonstrations, for instance, "How is it that we oughtn't to lie?" The third confirms and analyses the other two, for instance, "How is this a demonstration?" For what is a demonstration, what is logical consequence, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood? The third area of study is necessary, then, because of the second, and the second because of the first, but the most necessary, and that on which we should dwell, is the first. But we do the opposite; for we spend our time on the third area of study, and employ all our efforts on that, while wholly neglecting the first. And so it comes about that we lie, while having at hand all the arguments that show why we oughtn't to lie. (Epictetus, Enchiridion 52.1, translated by Robin Hard)

​

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Additionally, here are some ancient and modern resource suggestions:

1. Epictetus, the Discourses, Enchiridion, and Fragments
2. Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius
3. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
4. What are some Stoic practices and exercises? from r/Stoicism's FAQ
5. The Stoic Therapy eLibrary
6. Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman
7. Applied Stoic Theory - A Compilation by u/runeaway
8. Stoicism for a Better Life by u/yourusersmanual
9. Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Fragments

​

If you would like to submit a post, please review the subreddit rules.

This sub is intended to serve primarily as an archive for posts about Stoicism in practice. These may include formal exercises, personal battles and victories (however big or small), examples from others, explanations, et cetera. The goal is to focus on the "first area":

​

> The first and most necessary area of study in philosophy is the one that deals with the application of principles, such as, "Don't lie." The second deals with demonstrations, for instance, "How is it that we oughtn't to lie?" The third confirms and analyses the other two, for instance, "How is this a demonstration?" For what is a demonstration, what is logical consequence, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood? The third area of study is necessary, then, because of the second, and the second because of the first, but the most necessary, and that on which we should dwell, is the first. But we do the opposite; for we spend our time on the third area of study, and employ all our efforts on that, while wholly neglecting the first. And so it comes about that we lie, while having at hand all the arguments that show why we oughtn't to lie. (Epictetus, Enchiridion 52.1, translated by Robin Hard)

​

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Additionally, here are some ancient and modern resource suggestions:

1. Epictetus, the Discourses, Enchiridion, and Fragments
2. Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius
3. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
4. What are some Stoic practices and exercises? from r/Stoicism's FAQ
5. The Stoic Therapy eLibrary
6. Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman
7. Applied Stoic Theory - A Compilation by u/runeaway
8. Stoicism for a Better Life by u/yourusersmanual
9. Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Fragments

​

If you would like to submit a post, please review the subreddit rules.

This sub is intended to serve primarily as an archive for posts about Stoicism in practice. These may include formal exercises, personal battles and victories (however big or small), examples from others, explanations, et cetera. The goal is to focus on the "first area":

​

> The first and most necessary area of study in philosophy is the one that deals with the application of principles, such as, "Don't lie." The second deals with demonstrations, for instance, "How is it that we oughtn't to lie?" The third confirms and analyses the other two, for instance, "How is this a demonstration?" For what is a demonstration, what is logical consequence, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood? The third area of study is necessary, then, because of the second, and the second because of the first, but the most necessary, and that on which we should dwell, is the first. But we do the opposite; for we spend our time on the third area of study, and employ all our efforts on that, while wholly neglecting the first. And so it comes about that we lie, while having at hand all the arguments that show why we oughtn't to lie. (Epictetus, Enchiridion 52.1, translated by Robin Hard)

​

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Additionally, here are some ancient and modern resource suggestions:

1. Epictetus, the Discourses, Enchiridion, and Fragments
2. Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius
3. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
4. What are some Stoic practices and exercises? from r/Stoicism's FAQ
5. The Stoic Therapy eLibrary
6. Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman
7. Applied Stoic Theory - A Compilation by u/runeaway
8. Stoicism for a Better Life by u/yourusersmanual
9. Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Fragments

​

If you would like to submit a post, please review the subreddit rules.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_5ec1MfMSrY

There are alot of hypes on Marcus Aurelius, but let's forget about Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger 

This sub is intended to serve primarily as an archive for posts about Stoicism in practice. These may include formal exercises, personal battles and victories (however big or small), examples from others, explanations, et cetera. The goal is to focus on the "first area":

​

> The first and most necessary area of study in philosophy is the one that deals with the application of principles, such as, "Don't lie." The second deals with demonstrations, for instance, "How is it that we oughtn't to lie?" The third confirms and analyses the other two, for instance, "How is this a demonstration?" For what is a demonstration, what is logical consequence, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood? The third area of study is necessary, then, because of the second, and the second because of the first, but the most necessary, and that on which we should dwell, is the first. But we do the opposite; for we spend our time on the third area of study, and employ all our efforts on that, while wholly neglecting the first. And so it comes about that we lie, while having at hand all the arguments that show why we oughtn't to lie. (Epictetus, Enchiridion 52.1, translated by Robin Hard)

​

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Additionally, here are some ancient and modern resource suggestions:

1. Epictetus, the Discourses, Enchiridion, and Fragments
2. Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius
3. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
4. What are some Stoic practices and exercises? from r/Stoicism's FAQ
5. The Stoic Therapy eLibrary
6. Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman
7. Applied Stoic Theory - A Compilation by u/runeaway
8. Stoicism for a Better Life by u/yourusersmanual
9. Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Fragments

​

If you would like to submit a post, please review the subreddit rules.

“When you do anything from a clear judgement that it ought to be done, never shrink from being seen to do it, even though the world should misunderstand it; for if you are not acting rightly, shun the action itself; if you are, why fear those who wrongly censure you?”

~ Epictetus, Enchiridion (XXXV.)

Every action we do is under our responsibility. Whether we choose to act one way or the other, is completely under our own discretion. Therefore, what we choose to do, based on our foresight, should be conducted with clear judgement and with the intention of it being the right, just, and truthful action itself.

Recently, I talked about how Agrippinus defied Nero’s invitation to a get-together simply because he knew that attending was not right and would go against his values. But even after being questioned, he didn’t cave in to the pressure; he remained stern.

He wasn’t afraid of doing the action because he knew he was right - even when Florus, a Roman official, misunderstood and questioned his perspective. He didn’t fear the disapproval because that’s what was true to his self.

And that’s how we should act as well: Acting to the point where, with enough practice, we know it’s the right thing to do based on the alignment with our virtues, and to not back away from that position; to ensure that our actions are not wrong, unjust, and untruthful.

“But what do we do if we perform actions that are wrong, unjust, and untruthful?”

Shun the action itself.

Cheers,
Adam

P.S. If you liked this write-up I wrote, I have a newsletter that talks about Stoicism. 4x a week with posts like these, and summary issues at the end of each week highlighting passages, quotes, and wallpapers.

“‘Ay, but this is not suitable to my character.’

It is you who are to consider that, not I,: for it is you who know yourself, what value you set upon yourself, and at what rate you sell yourself; for different people sell themselves at different prices.”

~ Epictetus, On The Complete Works of Epictetus (Chapter II)

In every single situation you experience, what do you value and prioritize?

Here's a good story that should set a standard:

Nero was the infamous 5th Roman Emperor who was known for being extraneously violent and homicidal. It was publicly known that refusing Nero’s orders would most definitely get you murdered or tortured. Agrippinus was a Stoic philosopher who was highly regarded by Epictetus.

One day, Nero held an event for all and Agrippinus declined his attendance.

Florus, a Roman official, knew that not attending meant death. He even said: “But if I do not act a part, I shall lose my head.” Agrippinus simply responded: “Go and act it then, but I will not.” and outlined his duty to not conform and instead, to being the singular purple thread amongst the many white threads in a robe.

Agrippinus knew what he valued and knew that the value of living honourably was more valuable than living itself. That’s not to say that dying is preferable to living, even Agrippinus said that it’s not; however, the virtues are guides to what we must follow regardless of the circumstance, at all times.

The next time you are faced with a situation that may jeopardize the practice of your values, remember Aggripinus’ story and ask yourself: What do you truly value? What do you sell yourself at?

Don’t sell yourself short.

Cheers,

Adam

P.S. If you liked this write-up I wrote, I have a newsletter that talks about Stoicism. 4x a week with posts like these, and summary issues at the end of each week highlighting passages, quotes, and wallpapers.

“And so I conclude that because we humans acquire all good things by pain, the person who is himself unwilling to endure pain all but condemns himself to being worthy of nothing good.”

~ Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Sayings (Note 7)

Humans acquire all good things by pain. Wisdom from devastating failures, strength from exhausting exercise, courage from strenuous practice, etc… and by not willing to suffer through this pain, we neglect our ability to be virtuous.

There is a reason for pain’s importance. As Musonius Rufus put it in the same lecture: it allows us to be “good and just and self-controlled” (Note 7).

You can’t practice the virtue of temperance without enduring the pain of resisting pleasure.

You can’t practice the virtue of courage without enduring the pain of facing your fears.

You can’t practice the virtue of justice without enduring the pain of moderation and not taking more than your share.

You can’t practice the virtue of wisdom without enduring the pain of figuring out what is good and what is bad.

Suffering pain is necessary for improvement because, through pain, you find opportunity; the opportunity to practice virtuosity. The opportunity that allows you to make the right decision and practice being calm, disciplined, rational, free of pleasure. The opportunity that allows you to transform to who you want to be.

Suffer the pain that makes you improve. Suffer the pain that makes you good.

Suffer the pain that makes you virtuous.

Cheers,

Adam

P.S. If you liked this write-up I wrote, I have a newsletter that dives deeper into Stoicism than just the surface-level of what people write about. Come check it out, I'll always love feedback :)

“Perfection of character: to live your last day, every day, without frenzy, or sloth, or pretense.”

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (7.69)

Life is hectic now, and was still hectic back in the times of Ancient Rome. No matter your income status, education, or background, circumstances constantly pressured people to perform.

However, what were people performing for was, and still is, the real question.

Marcus Aurelius was constantly dealt with the pressures of being an Emperor (a.k.a. one of the most powerful individuals on Earth), but as we all know, great power comes with great responsibility: starving citizens, mass debt, wars, and the blame ultimately falling on his shoulders. So how did he live his stressful days?

By making sure that he’s doing the best he could.

By ensuring that he’s striving for perfection whenever possible, as much as possible.

By reflecting that tomorrow is never guaranteed, and because of that, we should act our finest today.

If we knew that it was potentially our last day on Earth, what would you rather do? Spiral into an uncontrolled frenzy and become careless, or live with the upmost determination to not allow our impressions and emotions get the better of us? To live with the discipline and satisfaction that you maintained your character throughout hardship? Stoicism encompasses the latter.

Regardless of our circumstances, we always have the opportunity to be ‘perfect’. We always have the opportunity to live our last days without anger, sloth, hysteria, and vices we wouldn’t normally want, and instead live those days with wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance.

Take the opportunity before it’s gone forever.

Cheers,

Adam

P.S. If you liked this write-up I wrote, I have a newsletter that dives deeper into Stoicism than just the surface-level of what people write about. Come check it out, I'll always love feedback :)

“Convince them not to.

If you can.

And if not, remember: the capacity for patience was given us for a reason.”

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (9.11)

There’s one thing I can guarantee that has happened to you: you’ve never not been in an argument or a debate. At some point in all of our lives, we’ve been involved in a verbal dispute advocating for our beliefs.

And whenever we’re in an argument or a debate, the natural human inclination is to prove the other side wrong. Or prove them wrong according to our standards, at least.

But to fall in line with the Stoic Philosophy, we must remember that there should only be two avenues during this type of situation: calm persuasion and patience.

If you’re supporting a side in a discussion, calm persuasion is what we should invoke with the emphasis on ‘calm’. Calmly control your emotional responses and do not allow anger or resentment to transpire simply because the persuasion was unconvincing.

There should be no reason to become angered as a result of a failed persuasion, and that’s why we’re given patience for a reason. We won’t be able to convince everybody we come across and as a result, we have to bear with that reality.

The next time you catch yourself beginning to argue unnecessarily or debating with the objective of winning rather than the truth, ask yourself if you can convince them. If you can, go ahead, but only do so calmy and non-excessively.

If you can’t, enact the patience and control to not let your emotions get the better of you.

Cheers,

Adam
Pocket Stoicism

P.S. If you liked this write-up I wrote, I have a newsletter that dives deeper into Stoicism than just the surface-level of what people write about. Come check it out, I'll always love feedback :)

“It’s time you realized that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet.

What’s in my thoughts at this moment? Fear? Jealousy? Desire? Feelings like that?”

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (12.19)

What were in your thoughts these past couple days? Did you take note if you felt fearful? Jealous? Angry? Sluggish? Sad?

Regardless if you did or didn’t, more often than not, these emotions are caused by external circumstances beyond our power. More specifically, it is the response we form because of these external circumstances beyond our power which we need to explore.

We control the internal character that responds to the situations we face. The things that affect us only affect us if we allow them to do so and while this may happen, Marcus Aurelius said that there is something more powerful within us to prevent it: and I’d argue that he is talking about our faculty of reason.

Our faculty of reason is the way in which we judge whether or not certain impressions, choices, and actions are in alignment with Nature. Is feeling anger from an insult aligned with Nature? Is being in good spirit after you lost all your money aligned with Nature? Our faculty of reasoning will know.

All in all, our faculty of reasoning decides finds the rational response we must undertake to a situation. Whether something is internal, external, indifferent, good, bad, etc… our faculty of reasoning will help us act accordingly.

It’s time to realize this: You have the influence over your responses. You have the ability to reason if an action of vice or virtue is good or bad, and as as a result, you have the control to decide how you respond. It’s not an easy task to do and will take time to get accustomed to, but it’s living accordingly with Nature.

Don’t let things external affect you into feeling fear, anger, etc… You hold the sole responsibility to dictate how you respond to an event beyond your control.

Cheers,
Adam

P.S. If you liked this write-up I wrote, I have a newsletter that dives deeper into Stoicism than just the surface-level of what people write about. Come check it out, I'll always love feedback :)

This sub is intended to serve primarily as an archive for posts about Stoicism in practice. These may include formal exercises, personal battles and victories (however big or small), examples from others, explanations, et cetera. The goal is to focus on the "first area":

​

> The first and most necessary area of study in philosophy is the one that deals with the application of principles, such as, "Don't lie." The second deals with demonstrations, for instance, "How is it that we oughtn't to lie?" The third confirms and analyses the other two, for instance, "How is this a demonstration?" For what is a demonstration, what is logical consequence, what is contradiction, what is truth, what is falsehood? The third area of study is necessary, then, because of the second, and the second because of the first, but the most necessary, and that on which we should dwell, is the first. But we do the opposite; for we spend our time on the third area of study, and employ all our efforts on that, while wholly neglecting the first. And so it comes about that we lie, while having at hand all the arguments that show why we oughtn't to lie. (Epictetus, Enchiridion 52.1, translated by Robin Hard)

​

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Additionally, here are some ancient and modern resource suggestions:

1. Epictetus, the Discourses, Enchiridion, and Fragments
2. Seneca, Moral letters to Lucilius
3. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
4. What are some Stoic practices and exercises? from r/Stoicism's FAQ
5. The Stoic Therapy eLibrary
6. Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman
7. Applied Stoic Theory - A Compilation by u/runeaway
8. Stoicism for a Better Life by u/yourusersmanual
9. Musonius Rufus, Lectures and Fragments

​

If you would like to submit a post, please review the subreddit rules.

“A horse at the end of the race…

A dog when the hunt is over…
A bee with its honey stored…
And a human being after helping others.

They don’t make a fuss about it. They just go on to something else, as the vine looks forward to bearing fruit again in season.

We should be like that. Acting almost unconsciously.”

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (5.6)

When people help out others, Marcus said, a majority of them see it as a favor wherein the other person will be in ‘debt’ to them. Some may directly ask for the debt to be paid off, while others may not ask but continuously keeps in mind of the debt that has been incurred.

A minority of individuals, however, don’t expect anything in return whatsoever. And these are the people that Marcus Aurelius suggests to be.

Complimenting someone, holding the door for a stranger, teaching someone about a concept they don’t understand, or spending just a little bit of extra time to go out of your way for someone; all of these acts are examples of things we should do to help out those around us without expecting anything in return.

We were born to work together (Meditations, 2.1) and one of the components of working together is to help each other out - to aid them, assist, do favors for, etc… without the expectation of something received in return.

Similar to how a grapevine which produces fruit and is satisfied so long as the fruit is proper: we too, should replicate that of the grapevine. By doing so, we are fulfilling our natural duty to do good to others.

Help out others humbly. Be the grapevine that reproduces good fruit. Be kind for the sake of being kind, not for the sake of expecting a gift in return.

Cheers,
Adam

P.S. If you liked this write-up I wrote, I have a newsletter that dives deeper into Stoicism than just the surface-level of what people write about. Come check it out, I'll always love feedback :)

Goooood morning. As aforementionned, I am no longer posting each individual episode of Stoicism for a Better Life in this sub (as it has expanded to other topics as well). Instead I will post a reminder and link to the Podcast every now and then. All past and present links can be found at stoicismforabetterlife.com

E05S06

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andersonsilver/episodes/Season-6-Episode-5-105---ON-WHAT-STOICISM-WILL-ACTUALLY-BRING-YOU---Stoicism-For-a-Better-Life-Podcast-e2gvbbv

Your friend

Anderson Silver

“Aiming therefore at such great things, remember that you must not allow yourself to be carried, even with a slight tendency, towards the attainment of lesser things.”

~ Epictetus, Enchiridion (Chapter I)

In order to be the best version of ourselves, we have to act the best.

In order to be great, we need to act great. Even at the most minimal amount, as Epictetus said, we should never settle for lesser things.

Through the same passage, Epictetus broadly defined the act that we need to pursue in order to be great: figure out what is in your control. By figuring out what you control, you won’t be disturbed, you won’t forcibly do anything against your will, you won’t have enemies, you won’t blame anyone, and you won’t be harmed.

Striving for greatness, always, is a motto that reminds you of what you need to do in every situation. As simple as it may sound, and through the teachings of Stoicism from the likes of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, doing right in every situation means following the Stoic principles as best as we can.

Always work every moment of the day to apply these principles. Not working and allowing yourself the comfort of lesser things won’t allow you to progress to greatness - ie. happiness and freedom.

Aim higher. Reject lesser things. Aim to be great.

Cheers,

Adam

P.S. If you liked this write-up I wrote, I have a newsletter that dives deeper into Stoicism than just the surface-level of what people write about. Come check it out, I'll always love feedback :)

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

~ Epictetus Fragments of Epictetus (CXXIV)

If you’re not happy with little, you won’t be happy with a lot. Seneca once attested to this statement by saying that the poor man is the one who endlessly craves more, and not the man with little material possession. And both Epictetus’ and Seneca’s passages mesh well together.

When you grieve for what you don’t have, you tend to crave more. Instead of being grateful for what you own, you desire that new piece of clothing, that new car, that new house, etc… But then once you actually get it, you’ll end up grieving for something else you want rather than rejoicing for what you have - a constant and never-ending cycle.

By showing gratitude and being content with what you have, you’ll prevent Stoic passions from ruling over your thought-process. You’ll become less envious, less jealous, and less greedy; all passions Stoicism denounces. And by removing these passions, you take one step closer to living a virtuous life.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t buy what you want to buy; but to make sure that it’s being bought with rational thought rather than through impulse or envy, and to further ensure that you’re grateful for whatever is being purchased and for what you have already.

Be content with your lot. Once you’re content, you’ll be grateful regardless of what you own and won’t allow jealousy or envy intrude into your mind.

Cheers,

Adam

P.S. If you liked this write-up I wrote, I have a newsletter that dives deeper into Stoicism than just the surface-level of what people write about. Come check it out, I'll always love feedback :)