Ancient Stoicism in Plain English

June 13, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses

Freedom from Divulging Confidences

1. If someone confides in you, you don’t have to confide back. 2. You confide in someone only if that person is trustworthy. 3. As a rule, confidences require good faith and judgments that go with it.

June 9, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses

Freedom from Mind Wandering

1. When you let your mind wander, you can’t bring it back whenever you like. 2. You should constantly keep the basic principles at hand. 3. Practice the basic principles. Don’t worry about pleasing others.

June 7, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses

Freedom From Impurities

1. Cleanliness is a human trait. 2. The first purity is the purity of the mind. 3. But we should keep our bodies clean as well. 4. You will be credible when your physical appearance supports you. 5. Beautify your inner qualities, but don’t neglect your outer appearance

June 2, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Book Excerpts

Freedom from Anxieties

When you are anxious about the future, you are mostly concerned with what is not under your control.

May 30, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses

Freedom From Following the Wrong Course

When you see someone with things you don’t have don’t envy. Think of what you have in their place.

May 26, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses

Freedom from Hasty Judgments

1. Actions are neutral. What makes them good or bad is the judgment on which they were based. 2. Don’t be carried away be external appearances and make hasty judgments. 3. What a person does is more important than what he claims he is.

May 23, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses

Freedom from Fear

You are afraid because you think you would lose things that you value – such as your body and your property.

May 19, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses

Freedom from the Opinions of Others

1. There is no need to worry about what others say about you. 2. If others have things like money, office, and other things, it is because they worked for it.

May 15, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses

Freedom From Conflicts

1. A good person is not in conflict with anyone. If she can, she prevents others from getting into conflict. 2. When others make a mistake, remember things could be worse. 3. Different people judge things differently. This leads to conflict.

May 12, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses

Act on What You Learned

1. Any desire – be it for money or for peace – makes you a slave. 2. Read with a view to act on what you learn. 3. The more value you attach to external things, the less free you are to choose.