Stoicism is a movement founded by Greek philosopher Zeno during the Hellenistic period (around 300 BC) that places great emphasis on virtue and living a life in accordance with nature.
Although the word “stoic” commonly refers to someone indifferent to pain, pleasure, grief, or joy, the great Stoic philosophers were definitely not indifferent to these feelings and emotions. They were thinkers and dreamers just like you and me. Stoicism as a philosophy of mind goes much deeper than just ethics, reason and logic.
In this post, I’ll share several inspiring quotes from stoic philosophy on 10 topics that can lead you to a life filled with purpose and happiness.
1. Connect with the world around you.
Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception, the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one movement; and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things that exist; observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the structure of the web.
-Marcus Aurelius
2. Live in the present moment.
True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.
-Seneca
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
3. Live a life of virtue.
He who is making progress has learned that desire is for things good and that aversion is for things evil, and further, that peace and calm are only achieved as a man gets the things he wants and avoids the things he doesn’t want. Since virtue is rewarded with happiness, calm and serenity, progress towards virtue is progress towards its benefits and this progress is always a step towards perfection.
-Epictetus
4. The mind is your power. Harness it.
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.
-Marcus Aurelius
You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
– Marcus Aurelius
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.
– Marcus Aurelius
Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them.
-Epictetus
5. Be grateful for what you have.
Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours.
– Marcus Aurelius
6. Cultivate strong relationships by doing
When one partner looks to his own interests alone and neglects the other’s, or (by Zeus) the other is so minded that he lives in the same house, but keeps his mind on what is outside it, and does not wish to pull together with his partner or to cooperate, then inevitably the union is destroyed, and although they live together their common interests fare badly, and either they finally get divorced from one another or they continue on in an existence that is worse than loneliness.
-Musonius Rufus
7. Be thankful for what you have and stop worrying about what you don’t have.
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
-Epictetus
8. Value time.
Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. Death overshadows you. While you’re alive and able– be good.
– Marcus Aurelius
9. Remember why you are doing what you are doing.
At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?’
So you were born to feel ‘nice’? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?
You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you.
– Marcus Aurelius
10. Change your perspective on failure.
Does what’s happened keep you from acting with justice, generosity, self-control, sanity, prudence, honesty, humility, straightforwardness, and all other qualities that allow a person’s nature to fulfill itself? So remember this principle when something threatens to cause you pain: the thing itself was no misfortune at all; to endure it and prevail is great good fortune.
– Marcus Aurelius
Ryan K Biddulph says
Kathy I love this. That first quite is truth, because it is Love. Brilliant.
Kathy CR says
Thank you! 🙂