Stoicism isn't exactly a word very familiar to modern audiences. Some people are likely seeing it for the first time ever. And to be fair, it's not surprising. Stoicism and Stoic Philosophy hails from ancient Greece and Rome in the early 3rd century BC. So when we say that this word is ancient, we really mean it. However, even if we don't consciously acknowledge it, the many dogmas and ideas ingrained in Stoic Philosophy are prevalent in our everyday lives. After reading through some philosopher quotes written eons ago, you might be surprised how much you can relate to them today.
We could refer to Stoicism as a way of living that emphasizes good feelings, lessens negative feelings, and aids in developing good morals. It's about self-control and overcoming destructive, hurtful emotions. In modern and simple terms, that's ensuring one's wellbeing: controlling your emotions, having high moral standards, staying free of bias, etc. That's pretty much being stoic in a nutshell. And, likely, the many inspirational quotes you have stumbled upon online were actually stoic quotes from ancient philosophers and the greatest contributors to Stoicism.
While the times change, many of the morals and values in life don't. Throughout the years, humanity has just applied the teachings, knowledge, and lessons learned from our ancestors to fit modern generations. To this day, the many Stoic Philosophy quotes remain a source for education and a field of study for contemporary philosophers.
Below, we've gathered many Stoic quotes from some of the greatest philosophers, writers, and even actors. So indulge in wisdom quotes that speak volumes. Did you like any of these philosophical quotes in particular? Also, do you know any other thinkers and their famous quotes that hit home with you? Let us know! And if you are looking for more inspiring quotes, check out our post featuring quotes to appreciate life!
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"It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own." — Marcus Aurelius
More often, we are consumed by the stares, glances, and quips by others; incessantly evaluating our authenticity. Marcus Aurelius' observation reminds us to take stock in ourselves - in our beliefs and our humanity - we really are an extension of our virtues, through action and words.
"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality." — Seneca
I can't get behind this one. The "rights" I'm supposed to have are threatened everyday and might be taken in a moment; reminding me that people in power see me as something less than. There are people with the ideals and opinions that would literally kill me just because I exist. Nevermind every little f****d thing that's actually happened to me. My imagination lets me go somewhere good. Somewhere not here.
"No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don’t have, and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have." – Seneca
Seneca alludes to our human nature to covet and long for "things" that distract us from the simpler things in life - the things that free us up to contribute to the community. After all, we are a part of the larger community.
"The ultimate power in life is to be completely self-reliant, completely yourself." — Robert Greene
"All cruelty springs from weakness." — Seneca
I'm going to have to disagree. There are some horrible people that just enjoy cruelty for its own sake.
"The greatest remedy for anger is delay." — Seneca
"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." – Viktor Frankl
What this is saying that life throws things at us, good or bad, that we cannot change. It is up to us to learn from it and change for the better (or worse). Yet, no matter what, it is still up to us.
"You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." — Marcus Aurelius
"Whatever happens at all happens as it should; you will find this true if you watch narrowly." — Marcus Aurelius
"If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it." – Marcus Aurelius
"Life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future." – Seneca
"The past has no power over the present moment." — Eckhart Tolle. The cognitive dissonance is strong with these two statements.
"The best answer to anger is silence." — Marcus Aurelius
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." — Marcus Aurelius
"We should always be asking ourselves: 'Is this something that is, or is not, in my control?'" — Epictetus
"If anyone can refute me — show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective — I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone." – Marcus Aurelius
"Curb your desire — don’t set your heart on so many things and you will get what you need." – Epictetus
"We should not, like sheep, follow the herd of creatures in front of us, making our way where others go, not where we ought to go." — Seneca
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful." — Seneca
"The past has no power over the present moment." — Eckhart Tolle
"Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control." — Epitectus
"Don’t seek for everything to happen as you wish it would, but rather wish that everything happens as it actually will — then your life will flow well." – Epictetus
"Settle on the type of person you want to be and stick to it, whether alone or in company." — Marcus Aurelius
"It is not that we are given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but wasteful of it." — Seneca
"It does not matter how many books you have, but how good are the books which you have." — Seneca
"No loss should be more regrettable to us than losing our time, for it’s irretrievable." — Zeno
"One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood." — Seneca
"Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions — not outside." — Marcus Aurelius
"Stoicism teaches how to keep a calm and rational mind no matter what happens to you and it helps you understand and focus on what you can control and not worry about and accept what you can’t control." — Jonas Salzgeber
"When someone is properly grounded in life, they shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval." — Epictetus
"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak." — Epictetus
"Remain silent for the most part, or say only what is essential, and in few words." — Epictetus
"Caring about the one inevitably means you are going to short change the other." — Epictetus
"What upsets people is not things themselves, but their judgments about these things." — Epictetus
"In your actions, don’t procrastinate. In your conversations, don’t confuse. In your thoughts, don’t wander. In your soul, don’t be passive or aggressive. In your life, don’t be all about business." – Marcus Aurelius
"Nothing, to my way of thinking, is a better proof of a well ordered mind than a man’s ability to stop just where he is and pass some time in his own company." – Seneca
"This is our big mistake: to think we look forward to death. Most of death is already gone. Whatever time has passed is owned by death." – Seneca
"How ridiculous and how strange to be surprised at anything which happens in life." — Marcus Aurelius
"The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away." — Marcus Aurelius
"The man who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive." — Seneca
"When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends." — Seneca
"It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them." — Epictetus
"Remember that pain has this most excellent quality. If prolonged it cannot be severe, and if severe it cannot be prolonged." — Seneca
"Of this one thing make sure against your dying day – that your faults die before you do." — Seneca
"You should live in such a way that there is nothing which you could not as easily tell your enemy as keep to yourself." — Seneca
"In life, it doesn’t matter what happens to you or where you came from. It matters what you do with what happens and what you’ve been given." — Ryan Holiday
"From now on, then, resolve to live as a grown-up who is making progress, and make whatever you think best a law that you never set aside." — Epictetus
"Just keep in mind: the more we value things outside our control, the less control we have." — Epictetus
"Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily." — Epictetus
"Choose not to be harmed — and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed — and you haven’t been." – Marcus Aurelius
"You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think." – Marcus Aurelius
"I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent—no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you." – Seneca
"That’s why the philosophers warn us not to be satisfied with mere learning, but to add practice and then training. For as time passes we forget what we learned and end up doing the opposite, and hold opinions the opposite of what we should." – Epictetus
"The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own." – Epictetus
"Remember Matter. How tiny your share of it. Time. How brief and fleeting your allotment of it. Fate. How small a role you play in it." — Marcus Aurelius
"Floods will rob us of one thing, fire of another. These are conditions of our existence which we cannot change." — Seneca
"Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory." —William Barclay
"Unhappy man, who are the slave even of a girl… Why then do you still call yourself free?" — Epictetus
"If you want to make progress, put up with being perceived as ignorant or naive in worldly matters, don't aspire to a reputation for sagacity." — Epictetus
"Because he not only wants to perform well, he wants to be well received — and the latter lies outside his control." — Epictetus
"Whatever happens at all happens as it should; you will find this true if you watch narrowly." — Marcus Aurelius
"No one can keep you from living as your nature requires. Nothing can happen to you that is not required by Nature." — Marcus Aurelius
"Think of the life you have lived until now as over and, as a dead man, see what’s left as a bonus and live it according to Nature. Love the hand that fate deals you and play it as your own, for what could be more fitting?" – Marcus Aurelius
"It’s time you realized that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet." – Marcus Aurelius
"External thinks are not the problem. It’s your assessment of them. Which you can erase right now." – Marcus Aurelius
"People are frugal in guarding their personal property, but as soon as it comes to squandering time they are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy." – Seneca
"If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, 'He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would have not mentioned these alone.'" – Epictetus
"What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him." – Viktor Frankl
"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart." — Marcus Aurelius
"What really ruins our character is the fact that none of us looks back over his life." — Seneca
"We begin to lose our hesitation to do immoral things when we lose our hesitation to speak of them." — Musonius Rufus
"Humanity must seek what is NOT simple and obvious using the simple and obvious." — Musonius Rufus
"Since every man dies, it is better to die with distinction than to live long." — Musonius Rufus
"Only by exhibiting actions in harmony with the sound words which he has received will anyone be helped by philosophy." — Musonius Rufus
"Thus whoever destroys human marriage destroys the home, the city-the whole human race." — Musonius Rufus
"Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future too." — Marcus Aurelius
"The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time." — Marcus Aurelius
"They lose the day in expectation of the night, and the night in fear of the dawn." — Seneca
"You will find no one willing to share out his money, but to how many does each of us divide up his life!"— Seneca
"Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response." — Viktor Frankl
"Do what you will. Even if you tear yourself apart, most people will continue doing the same things." — Marcus Aurelius
"It’s far better to seem like a downer than to be blindsided or caught off guard." — Ryan Holiday
"Be silent for the most part, or, if you speak, say only what is necessary and in a few words." — Epictetus
"No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig." — Epictetus
"It isn’t the things themselves that disturb people, but the judgments that they form about them." — Epictetus
"You ask what is the proper limit to a person’s wealth? First, having what is essential, and second, having what is enough." — Seneca
