The philosopher Epicurus taught that, “Any man who does not think that what he has is more than ample is an unhappy man, even if he is master of the whole world.” Epicurus was actually not a Stoic in the strict sense; rather, he was the founder of a competing school of philosophy, contemporaneous with the Stoics. Epicureanism and Stoicism had many beliefs in common, but held different attitudes toward one’s participation in the larger community.  Whitney J. Oates, in contrasting Stoicism with Epicureanism, tells us that, “The two systems are alike in that they attempt to give men peace and inner calm.” But whereas Epicureanism recommended “...a retirement into the garden, in order to gain that peace,” the Stoics maintained “...that the peace must be found in the midst of the world's confusions for, after all, all men are brothers.” [The Stoic and Epicurean Philosophers, Modern Library edition, p. xxiv.] In this sense, the Stoics have something in common with Judaism’s Hasidim, who believe that one can worship God in everyday life, even amidst the hurly-burly of the marketplace.

Notwithstanding these differences, the quote from Epicurus – “Any man who does not think that what he has is more than ample is an unhappy man, even if he is master of the whole world” – is quintessentially Stoic in spirit. Indeed, gratitude is one of the most important values in Stoic philosophy, though it is often given short shrift in discussions of Stoicism.  

We see the importance of gratitude when Marcus Aurelius begins his Meditations with a litany of “thank you” notes.  Marcus thanks everybody from his paternal grandfather to the gods! For example:

“Courtesy and serenity of temper I first learnt to know from my grandfather Verus... Manliness without ostentation I learnt from what I have heard and remember of my father... My mother set me an example of piety and generosity...”

As Farquharson puts it, these notes of thanks comprise “…a personal acknowledgment of lessons learned and good gifts received from the men and women who seemed… to have had the most influence on his life…” [Marcus Aurelius. Meditations, translated by ASL Farquharson, Knopf, 1946]  

Similarly, Seneca tells us, “It is in no man’s power to have whatever he wants; but he has it in his power not to wish for what he hasn’t got, and cheerfully make the most of the things that do come his way.”  He writes these words in a letter (CXXIII) to his younger friend, Lucilius, having returned home after a long and tiring journey.  Seneca notes that, “...I’m in bed, recovering from my fatigue, and making the best of [the] slowness on the part of the cook...” adding, “...whatever kind of meal is on the way is going to beat an inaugural banquet for enjoyment.”  [Seneca. Letters from a Stoic, translated by Robin Campbell, 1969] Seneca here demonstrates that our sense of fulfillment and satisfaction is largely a matter of our perspective; and that we can indeed be grateful even when life is not providing us with banquets. (Of course, few of us are fortunate enough to have our own cooks!) In another letter, Seneca quotes a fragment attributed to the moralist, Publilius Syrus (1st century BCE): “The poor lack much, the greedy everything.” This maxim may serve as a synopsis of the Stoic view of gratitude, as well as a sad commentary on people like Izzy. 

The epigram, “No deprivation is any trouble if you do not miss what you have lost” is drawn from Cicero’s essay titled, “The Pleasures of Old Age.” There, Cicero sets out to discredit the notion that the elderly are less capable of enjoyment than the young. Cicero concedes that when it comes to sexual pleasure, old age is at a disadvantage; e.g., “...let us admit that youth exceeds age in its enjoyment of this particular kind of pleasure.” But then Cicero quickly shifts perspective to see a deeper kind of pleasure in old age. He writes, 

“When its campaigns of sex, ambition, rivalry, quarrelling, and all the other passions are ended, the human spirit returns to live within itself and is well off. There is supreme satisfaction to be derived from an old age which has knowledge and learning to feed upon... surely the satisfactions of the mind are greater than all the rest!” 

Indeed, for the Stoics, we might summarize the “flourishing life” in this way: We live best when we strive to gather knowledge; live in harmony with Nature; act in an ethical manner; and experience gratitude for whatever blessings life has given us.  

Ron Pies MD, psychiatrist and educator, compares Stoic thought with Buddhism and Judaism (juBuSto), and finds parallels. He is the Author of Three Petalled Rose and many other books. 

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