The Stoic Magazine Library

Practice self-sufficiency. Don’t remain a dependent malleable patient: Become your own soul’s doctor. These lines, inspired by Epictetus, are from my book The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness.

Mama warned me about roaming around dodgy neighborhoods, but I didn’t heed her advice. Old enough to prefer seeking most of my knowledge from physical books and other print sources, I decided to enlarge my world by poking around the internet to read some discussions in assorted self-described Stoic forums around the world. 

The storming of the United States Capitol with its mob violence and wanton destruction on January 6 sadly showcased the power of “The Big Lie” in action. “The Big Lie,” perpetrated by Hitler, Goebbles, and others during WWII is the notion that if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it and act on it.

“The Ancient sage Booboo Baba described the healing powers of celery and skunk dung poultices.”

Keeping the creative spark alive.

“Stillness is not a means to deny, submerge, or otherwise repudiate the self. It is simply through the wisdom of stillness we see that the self or the soul is healthiest and happiest when it is pointed outward rather than inward.”

Stoicism speaks of flourishing as an ideal. Many ask, “flourishing sounds great, but how do you do it?” By these itty-bitty shifts in attention. That’s it.

“Stoicism has neither a catechism nor an official declaration of faith.”

“Virtue is the answer to just about any of our questions.”

“Wake up to the simple exquisite now. To this. Not to what could be, not to more would be better, but to a deep appreciation of the supposed minor details of everyday life.”

“Holding to our true aspirations no matter what is going on around us is an endeavour that naturally arises from courage, moderation, justice, and wisdom.”

“Holding to our true aspirations no matter what is going on around us is an endeavour that naturally arises from courage, moderation, justice, and wisdom.”

“This is the genius of Stoicism: removing the factors that eclipse joy.”

“Stoicism reminds us that beneficial, sustained improvement tends to grow incrementally. ”

“Let us return again and again to the courage it takes to try and try again.”