Recently, the climate in the Western world has been filled with turbulence—or at least perceived turbulence. The news cycle is relentless. Social media is a battlefield. Emotions are high. It’s easy, even natural, to get pulled into the drama of it all. You find yourself thinking about politics during your morning coffee. You feel tension in your chest when a headline flashes across your screen. It bothers you. And that’s very human.

But what would the Stoics say?

The dichotomy of control

First and foremost, the Stoics would remind us of the dichotomy of control—the principle that some things are up to us, and some things are not. This is not a suggestion; it is the backbone of Stoic philosophy.

A Stoic does not waste time obsessing over things outside their control. And that includes politicians, no matter how powerful, divisive, or controversial. You vote. You speak your mind. You take part in civic life. But once events unfold, Stoicism asks us to accept the outcome—not passively, but calmly.

Acceptance does not mean approval. It means refusing to let your character hinge on who holds office.

Beyond outrage: The Stoic response to leadership

The Stoic citizen does their duty: they engage thoughtfully, act ethically, and remain grounded in reason. But their identity and peace do not rise and fall with the headlines.

And when it comes to how we view those in power, Stoicism again breaks from the mainstream. In today’s discourse, it’s common to reduce political figures to villains—symbols of everything wrong. But Stoics saw even the worst behaviour as a result of error, not evil.

Whenever someone has done wrong by you, immediately consider what notion of good or evil they had in doing it. For when you see that, you’ll feel compassion, instead of astonishment or rage.
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7.26

To the Stoic, a corrupt or dangerous person is not a monster, but a soul misled by false values—power, fame, fear, ego. This doesn’t mean we condone their actions. But we don’t hate them either. We oppose without poisoning ourselves with bitterness.

Judgment is your own poison

Hatred may feel righteous. It may feel like action. But in Stoic terms, it’s a form of weakness—because it clouds your judgment and hijacks your peace.

When we judge others with rage, we usually stop there. Stoicism challenges us to go further. Not just to see what’s wrong—but to live out what’s right. To remain clear- headed and grounded, even when injustice stirs emotion.

This, again, is difficult. Especially when the person in question is someone we only see on screens—someone who affects millions. But even in those cases, the Stoic standard holds: respond with reason, not reactivity

Your duty remains, no matter the storm

Whether you’re disillusioned by a leader or fearful of what’s next, Stoicism brings you back to a constant: your response matters more than the circumstance.

It doesn’t matter who is in office, which party dominates, or whether the culture feels like it’s unraveling. The world changes. Your character doesn’t have to.

You are called to be a good citizen. A good friend. A good parent, partner, or neighbour. You’re called to uphold justice where you are. To speak wisely. To be temperate and strong.

Inner peace in a world on fire

The Stoics don’t promise that the world will be peaceful. They remind us that you can be peaceful, even when the world is not.

So when the storm rages—when you’re tempted to despair or lash out or feel helpless—return to the center. Return to what is up to you.

Be the person who doesn’t spiral.

Be the one who remains principled, steady, and inwardly free.

Because that is how change begins—not in outrage, but in example.

Brandon is most well-known for his podcast, The Strong Stoic Podcast, where he discusses philosophical ideas both solo and with guests. He also coaches individuals to help them be their best selves, writes articles, plays music, manages projects, and several other things.

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