Hello there, I tend to go through phases of philosophers depending on what I’m reading or am focused on at a particular time. I realized that as much as I have used Seneca’s work for these exercises in the past (and he has a lot of great work as we all know) in recent times I have neglected our favourite […]
Hello there, For this week’s exercise, let us look back at Epictetus and find wisdom in his often direct and borderline comic words. This is from the Discourses I 15.7&8: “Nothing great comes into being all at once; why, not even does the bunch of grapes, or a fig. If you say to me now, “I want a fig,” I […]
Hello there, For this week’s exercise, let us look at some words from Marcus Aurelius. This is from his Meditations XII 1: “You could enjoy this very moment all the things you are praying to reach by taking the long way around – if you’d stop depriving yourself of them.” If you found a genie and got to make […]
Hello there, For this week’s exercise, I will look for inspiration from one of the Stoics staunchest rivals, the Epicureans. This is from the founder of the school himself, Epicurus, as reported by Diogenes Laertius: “No one was ever the better for sexual indulgence.” So for a practical exercise this week, just give up sex. Become celibate. Ha, no […]
Hello there, Last week we looked at the Stoic philosopher who was an emperor of Rome. This week we go all the way to the other end of the Roman social spectrum in order to seek advice from to the great Stoic philosopher who was a slave. Just comes to show how Stoicism is applicable and relatable to any human […]
Hello there, This week I will seek inspiration from Marcus Aurelius. Let’s go back to some basics and remembering what is truly good or bad, so as to refocus our efforts and energies. This is from his Meditations VI 41: “But if we judge only those things that are in our power to be good or bad, there remains no […]
Hello there, For this week’s exercise, I will seek inspiration from one of the earliest Stoics Chrysippus, who was one of the most paradoxical Stoic thinkers. His syllogisms were often bizarre, but full of insight. This is one of his more famous paradoxical syllogisms, as reported by Diogenes Laertius: “There is a certain head, and that head you have not. […]
Hello there, For this week’s exercise, I will once again look outside our Stoic guides and teachers, as we do from time to time. This is from an old classic that some of you may have read called To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee in 1960. I reread this old classic last week, given the current state of […]
Hello there, Our ancient guides tell us to look for guidance and wisdom everywhere…not just from Stoic teachers. Why? We often speak about the pursuit of wisdom and the truth. However, we are not born with wisdom. It is something that must be pursued. And even though truth is everyone’s domain, and therefore …logically….we should be able to find sprinkles […]
Hello there, For this week’s exercise, I will look for inspiration from some simple and direct words from Epictetus’ Discourses I 9.29: “Friends, wait for God; when He shall give the signal and release you from his service, then go to Him; but for the present endure to dwell in this place where He has put you: short indeed is […]