Stoicism · 25 meditations
Stoic philosopher born into slavery around 55 CE who taught in Rome and, after philosophers were banished from the city, in Nicopolis in Greece. He wrote nothing himself; his teachings survive in the Discourses and the Enchiridion recorded by his student Arrian.
October 11, 2026 Train Your Wishes If you wish your children and your wife and your friends to live for ever, you are silly; for you wish the thi… October 06, 2026 Harden Yourself First You must conform to rules, submit to a diet, refrain from dainties; exercise your body, whether you choose it … September 27, 2026 What No One Can Take Of things some are in our power, and others are not. In our power are opinion, movement towards a thing, desir… September 25, 2026 Train In Secret When you have brought yourself to supply the needs of the body at small cost, do not pique yourself upon it; n… September 16, 2026 Nothing Can Touch Your Will Sickness is an impediment to the body, but not to the will, unless the will itself chooses. Lameness is an imp… September 11, 2026 The Tranquil Flow Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as the… September 10, 2026 Expect The Splash Whenever you are about to attempt some action, remind yourself what kind of an action it is. If you are going … September 01, 2026 Play The Part Assigned Remember that you are an actor in a play, the character of which is determined by the author. If it be short, … August 27, 2026 Where The Sting Really Lives Remember that it is not he who reviles you or strikes you, who insults you, but it is your opinion about these… August 26, 2026 Draw The Line First Of things some are in our power, and others are not. In our power are opinion, movement towards a thing, desir… August 25, 2026 Digest It Into Action Sheep do not throw up the grass to show the shepherds how much they have eaten; but, inwardly digesting their … August 22, 2026 What Cannot Be Impeded Disease is an impediment to the body, but not to the will, unless the will itself chooses. Lameness is an impe… August 08, 2026 What Is Not Yours If you wish your children, and your wife, and your friends to live for ever, you are stupid; for you wish thin… August 07, 2026 Expect To Be Jostled When you are going about any action, remind yourself what nature the action is. If you are going to bathe, put… July 28, 2026 What Nothing Can Take Show me a man who though sick is happy, though in danger is happy, though dying is happy, though in exile is h… July 26, 2026 Blame No One It is the sign of an ill-instructed man to blame others for his own bad condition; it is the sign of one who h… July 11, 2026 Some things are in our control, and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, … July 10, 2026 Men are disturbed, not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things: for example, death is… July 08, 2026 Some things are within our power, while others are not. June 23, 2026 Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as the… June 19, 2026 Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as the… June 05, 2026 Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as the… June 03, 2026 Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as the… May 20, 2026 Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as the… April 06, 2026 We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.