Stoic Meditations

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164. A good life depends not on length, but on our use of it Jul 30, 2018

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Seneca argues that it is the quality, not the duration, of one's life that is important, and that we often live long when measured in years, and yet too little in terms of what we accomplish.

163. What's really important in your life? Jul 27, 2018

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A straightforward quote by Epictetus allows us to reflect on what a philosophy of life is, and why everyone needs one.

162. On the difference between philosophy and logic chopping Jul 26, 2018

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Seneca says that he'd prefer to be told how to help people, rather than how many different meanings of the word "people" there may be.

161. Things themselves have no power to form our judgments Jul 25, 2018

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Life is hard as it is, says Marcus Aurelius, there is no need to make ourselves more miserable by adding unnecessary opinions that increase our suffering.

160. Reflect on the roles you play, and play them well Jul 24, 2018

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Epictetus introduced a major innovation in Stoic ethics with his theory of roles. We are first and foremost members of the human cosmopolis. But also fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends, colleagues. How do we balance the conflicting demands of such diverse roles in life?

159. Won't you be my neighbor? Jul 23, 2018

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Seneca reminds us that we can't live happily if we transform everything into a question of our own utility. We must live for your neighbour in order to live for ourselves.

158. What do you think is truly good for you? Jul 20, 2018

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Marcus provides us three options for what sort of thing is truly good for you, and argues that a person of understanding will go for the third one. Have you reflected on what is good for you, and why?

157. On family matters, take the high moral ground Jul 19, 2018

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Epictetus advises us to forgo issues of material resources and remember that family relationships in great part define who we are. After all, if we can't practice virtue with our brothers, sisters, and parents, with whom can we practice it?

156. Everyone who craves externals is a slave to them Jul 18, 2018

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Seneca says that if we are going after the satisfaction of lust, greed, ambition, and so forth, we make ourselves slaves to fortune. Not so if we regard what we have as loans from the universe, which the universe can take back at any moment, by any means.

155. Calibrate your desires, achieve serenity Jul 17, 2018

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Musonius Rufus reminds us that it is far easier to curb our desire for our neighbor's wife than to pursue it Not to mention that it is the right thing to do.

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