“Eteocles: ‘Where will you stand before the walls?’Polyneices: ‘For what reason do you ask me?’Eteocles: ‘I mean to face you and slay you.’Polyneices: ‘And so is my desire too.’” Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 22.12 It’s one of the most haunting moments from Greek tragedy: two brothers, once united by Read more
“People exist for one another. You can instruct or endure them.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 8.59 At some point, we all face it: the frustration of dealing with difficult people. But rather than lashing out or retreating, Marcus Aurelius gives us a timeless Stoic reminder. People exist for one another; Read more
“You are running away in your own company.” Seneca, Letters from a Stoic, Letter XXVIII Wherever you go, there you are. Seneca’s sharp line cuts deep for those constantly chasing the next place, project, or person to feel at ease. When he tells us that we are “running away in Read more
On this journey, we all need a moment for ourselves. Breathe in, Breathe out. Say out loud (or in your head) something you’re grateful for… Bonus if you tell the person next to you. Find Alignment with Yourself “For it is you who know yourself, and what value you set Read more
“For universally (and you should not be deceived on this) every living creature is attached to nothing so strongly as it is to its own interest.” Epictetus, The Discourses, Book Two, Chapter 22.12 What does Epictetus mean by saying that we are most attached to our self-interests? At first glance, Read more
“Three relationshipsi. with the body you inhabitii. with the divine, the cause of everything in all thingsiii. with the people around you” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 8.27 How often do we pause to evaluate our relationships, not just with others, but with ourselves and the universe? Marcus Aurelius offers a Read more
“If you really want to escape the things that harass you, what you’re needing is not to be in a different place but to be a different person.” Seneca, Letters From a Stoic, Letter CIV How often do we believe that changing our location will change our lives? We move Read more
“What a man sets his heart on, that he naturally loves. Do men set their heart on evils? – By no means. Or on what does not concern them? – No again. It remains for us to conclude, then, that good things alone are what they set their heart on: Read more
These 10 Seneca quotes on friendship will help you understand what it means to have true friends. For Seneca, friendship wasn’t just about companionship; it was a testing ground for virtue, trust, and mutual growth. In a world where relationships are often built on utility or pleasure, his Stoic wisdom Read more
“Practice really hearing what people say. Do your best to get inside their minds.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 6.53 Listening is a forgotten skill, and it requires attention, something we have long lost in the storm of information. We often hear to reply, not to understand, and to wait for Read more