“From Rusticus: To read attentively — not to be satisfied with ‘just getting the gist of it’.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 1.7 In an age of scrolling, speed-reading, and bite-sized summaries, this line from Marcus Aurelius feels radical. He doesn’t thank Rusticus for teaching him what to read, but how Read more
What is Oikeiōsis (οἰκείωσις)? Oikeiōsis (οἰκείωσις) is a Stoic concept meaning “self-appropriation”, the natural process by which a rational being recognizes itself as its own and gradually expands concern from the self to others, forming the foundation of Stoic ethics. 1. Why Oikeiōsis Still Matters In a world full of Read more
“First say to yourself, what manner of man you want to be; when you have settled this, act upon it in all you do.” Epictetus, Discourses, Book 3, Chapter 23.1 We spend so much of our lives trying to do more. Accomplish more. Achieve more. But the Stoics invite us Read more
What is within our control? This simple question lies at the heart of Stoic philosophy, and no Stoic addressed it more directly than Epictetus. A former slave turned philosopher, Epictetus taught that the key to peace and freedom lies in focusing only on what we can control and letting go Read more
“Whatever fate one man can strike can come to all of us alike.” Publius, from Seneca’s Consolation to Marcia, 9 When life delivers a heavy blow, it often feels personal, as if the universe has singled us out. But this quote, cited by Seneca, reminds us that fate is not Read more
“Enable my mind to adapt itself to whatever comes to pass.” Epictetus, The Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 2.21 Life rarely follows the script we hoped for. That’s why we need a Stoic mindset for unexpected events. Plans fall through. People change. Unexpected events knock us off balance. But Epictetus offers Read more
In Stoicism, arete (Greek: ἀρετή) is one of the most important central concepts to know. Often translated as virtue or excellence, it describes the highest good in Stoic philosophy: living in full alignment with reason, nature, and moral integrity. But why should a modern reader care about an ancient Greek Read more
“The best revenge is not to be like that” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 6.6 When someone hurts us, the instinct to get back at them can feel almost automatic. A sharp comment, a betrayal, a public humiliation, and our ego wants to fire back, to even the score. But Marcus Read more
“The first essential is not to become angry, the second to cease being angry, the third to cure also anger in other.” Seneca, On Anger, Book 3, Section 5 Anger is one of the most reactive emotions we face. It burns quickly, clouds our judgment, and often causes more damage Read more
“There are more things, Lucilius, likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius, Book 2, Letter 13.4 We’ve all been there. Lying in bed at night, thoughts racing. What if I said the wrong Read more