Blog Posts

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.

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

Guard Your Freedom

When you lose an external thing, you get something in return. Think about what you get in return when you lose an external thing.

May 6, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Book Excerpts ||

Be Committed to Your Choice

1. Everything comes at a price. 2. You can choose either restraint and dignity or having a good time without regard to anything else. 3. You can have either, but you have to choose one. 4. No matter what you choose, do it wholeheartedly.

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

How to Achieve Freedom – 4

1. As long as you desire an external thing, you will have a master. The person who has control over the external thing will be your master. 2. The way to achieve freedom is not by fulfilling your desires, but by letting go of them.

April 28, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Book Excerpts ||

How to Achieve Freedom – 3

1. The person who cannot be blocked is free. 2. The person who can be blocked is a slave. 3. You cannot be blocked if you don’t desire external things, things that are not your own. 4. This is the road to freedom.

April 25, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Book Excerpts ||

How to Achieve Freedom – 2

1. Understand what is under your control and what is not under your control. 2. Be prepared to let go of things you don’t own. 3. External things are not the problem, but they we judge them is the problem

April 21, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Book Excerpts ||

How to Achieve Freedom – 1

You are free when you live as you wish; when you cannot be compelled, obstructed, or controlled; your choices cannot be blocked; when you get your desires fulfilled, and when you don’t face anything you want to avoid.