Why Adiaphora Matters What is Adiaphora, and why does it matter? In Stoic philosophy, understanding where our priorities lie is everything. And just as important is understanding what doesn’t. That’s where the concept of adiaphora (ἀδιάφορα) comes in. Adiaphora is the Stoic term for “indifferents”. Those things that lie outside Read more
“For it is you who know yourself, and what value you set upon yourself, and at what rate you sell yourself.” Epictetus, Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 2.11 We don’t often pause to ask, “What am I worth?” Not in terms of money or social media followers, but in terms of Read more
Marcus Aurelius was more than a Roman Emperor. He was a Stoic philosopher who turned his daily reflections into one of the most enduring books in philosophy: Meditations. His thoughts, intended just for himself, continue to speak to millions around the world. In this post, we’ll explore the top ten Read more
“The world is nothing but change. Our life is only perception.” Democritus, Frg. B.115, from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 4.3 One of the hardest things to accept, and the most liberating, is this: we don’t see the world as it is. We see it through a filter. That’s not just Read more
“Life, it is thanks to death that you are precious in my eyes.” Seneca, Dialogues and Essays, Consolation to Marcia, 20 We tend to treat life as endless, until it reminds us that it’s not. A birthday, a close call, a funeral. Suddenly, things get sharper. Days feel weightier. We Read more
At the core of Stoic philosophy lies pneuma (πνεῦμα), a concept often translated as “breath,” “spirit,” or “air.” But in Stoic thought, it means far more. Pneuma is the animating force of the cosmos: a rational, life-giving breath that forms the soul, binds matter, and expresses divine reason throughout nature. Read more
“Difficulties are the things that show what men are.” Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 1, Chapter 24.1 Life will test you. Sometimes quietly, like a slow leak in your plans. Other times, like a tidal wave, fast and unforgiving. But to the Stoics, none of this is reason to despair. In Read more
“You too should drop your desire; do not covet many things, and you will get what you want.” Epictetus, Discourses, Book 3, Chapter 9.22 Temperance is one of the four cardinal virtues in Stoicism, yet it’s often overlooked against more popular ideas like courage or fate. But temperance, the discipline Read more
“If you seek tranquillity, do less.” Democritus, Frg. B.3 (as quoted by Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.24) At first glance, this advice sounds like a call to laziness. But Marcus Aurelius, ever the clarifier, adds a twist: “Or rather, do only what’s essential.” In other words, the Stoic approach to doing Read more
“True happiness, therefore, resides in virtue.” Seneca, On the Happy Life, Chapter 16 What if everything you’re chasing, success, status, wealth, was beside the point? Seneca believed that true happiness doesn’t come from our circumstances, but from how we live. According to Stoicism, happiness isn’t something we find. It’s something Read more