Quotes about Stoicism

This is courage in a man to bear unflinchingly what heaven sends.

No longer talk at all about the kind of man that a good man ought to be, but be such

A person is said to be patient…because he acts in a praiseworthy manner by enduring things which hurt him here and now and is not unduly saddened by them.

The soul is unwillingly deprived of truth.

With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this.

The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain.

You are a little soul carrying about a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.

Though you break your heart, men will go on as before.

If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgement of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgement now.

You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.

Don't let your imagination be crushed by life as a whole. Don't try to picture everything bad that could possibly happen. Stick with the situation at hand, and ask, "Why is this so unbearable? Why can't I endure it?" You'll be embarrassed to answer. Then remind yourself that past and future have no power over you. Only the present—and even that can be minimized. Just mark off its limits.

That all is as thinking makes it so — and you control your thinking. So remove your judgements whenever you wish and then there is calm - as the sailor rounding the cape finds smooth water and the welcome of a waveless bay.