Apatheia is an important concept in Stoicism and one that gives the philosophy a negative reputation. In modern times, we often equate this concept with being cold or uncaring. But in Stoicism, the ideal state of apatheia (ἀπάθεια) is not about being emotionless, it’s about being free. Free from the Read more
“If it ever happens that you turn to external things in the desire to please some other person, realize that you have ruined your scheme of life. Be content, then, with being a philosopher in everything; and if you wish also to be seen as one, show yourself that you Read more
“And if you can’t stop prizing a lot of other things? Then you’ll never be free.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 6.16 We all want to be free, and this can be found with Stoicism. We can learn to get rid of stress, release ourselves from other people’s expectations, and from Read more
“You are unfortunate in my judgement, for you have never been unfortunate. You have passed through life with no antagonist; no one will know what you were capable of, not even yourself.” Seneca, On Providence, Chapter 4 This rather controversial quote by Seneca shows the necessity for adversity. Most people Read more
Why Phantasia Matters Every moment, your mind is hit by a wave of impressions, someone’s comment, a headline, a sudden thought or image. The Stoics called these phantasiai (φαντασίαι): appearances, impressions, mental pictures. They’re automatic and triggered by all our senses. What happens after this phantasia is up to us. Read more
“You should drop your desire; do not covet many things, and you will get what you want.” Epictetus, Discourses, Book 3, Chapter 9.22 We are often told that desires are what push us forward, our ambition, our dreams, our goals. And that these will bring us happiness. But Epictetus flips Read more
Why do we need Stoic habits for a Modern Life? In a world that feels more chaotic by the day, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, distracted, or disconnected from what really matters. But 2,000 years ago, Stoic philosophers were already offering a framework to stay grounded, no matter what life Read more
“Life is long, if only you knew how to use it.” Seneca, On the Shortness of Life, Chapter 2 We complain that time slips away too fast, that the days are too short, the years too quick. But Seneca offers a sharper truth: it’s not that life is short, it’s Read more
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