What is Premeditatio Malorum? Premeditatio malorum is the Stoic practice of rehearsing adversity in advance, so that when misfortune comes, you can meet it with calm and virtue. Often described today as negative visualization (a modern phrase popularized by William Irvine), the practice literally means “the premeditation of evils.” It Read more
“If you do the job in a principled way, with diligence, energy, and patience, if you keep yourself free of distractions, and keep the spirit inside you undamaged as if you might have to give it back at any moment – if you embrace this without fear or expectations – Read more
“If you shape your life according to nature, you will never be poor; if according to people’s opinions, you will never be rich.” Seneca, Letters From a Stoic, Letter XVI Seneca draws a sharp contrast between two ways of living: by nature, or by opinion. The position of Stoic philosophy Read more
Introduction Ataraxia (ἀταραξία) is often translated as tranquility or peace of mind. In simple terms, it describes a state of being undisturbed by worry, fear, or excessive desire. For Stoics, this calmness is not passive indifference but the active result of living in harmony with reason, virtue, and nature. Why Read more
“Philosophers exhort us not to be contented with mere learning, but to add practice also, and then training.” Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 9.13 Epictetus cuts straight to the heart of philosophy: knowledge without practice is empty. For the Stoics, reading and studying were never enough. What matters is what Read more
Introduction: Living in Accord with Human Nature The Stoic discipline of action (Greek: hormē, Latin: actio) is about how we live in relation to others and the world. While the discipline of desire governs how we orient ourselves toward what is and is not under our control, and the discipline Read more
“How to act: Cheerfulness. Without requiring other people’s help. Or serenity supplied by others.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 3.5 Cheerfulness may not be the first word that comes to mind when we think of Stoicism. Many assume Stoicism is all about sternness or detachment, but Marcus Aurelius points us in Read more
“For the wise man regards wealth as a slave, the fool as a master, the wise man accords no importance to wealth, but in your eyes wealth is everything.” Seneca, Dialogues and Essays, On the Happy Life, 26 Seneca’s words strike at the core of one of humanity’s oldest temptations, Read more
What is Autarkeia? Autarkeia (αὐτάρκεια) is the ancient Greek word for self-sufficiency or contentment through independence. In Stoicism, it doesn’t mean isolating yourself or rejecting all help from others. Instead, it’s about cultivating an inner strength so your well-being doesn’t depend on external events, possessions, or the opinions of others. Read more
“…you have not been invited to such a person’s banquet, because you have not paid him the price for which a meal is sold. It is sold for praise; it is sold for attention. Make up the price, then, if that is to your advantage. But if you would at Read more