The Stoic Magazine Library

In her new book, JOURNAL LIKE A STOIC, Brittany Polat, our contributing author, offers a practical course on Stoicism.

Extracts from Journal Like a Stoic by Brittany Polat, published by Zeitgeist, 2022. Reproduced with permission from the author and the publisher. https://amzn.to/3B79zpc

“Even though the festival may be noisy, it can still be beautiful, fascinating, and just the right place for living a good life.”

“We are not apart from or outside nature: we are within it and subject to its majestic laws.”

“... we can find beauty in our companions and environment no matter where we are. Instead of longing for “beautiful” objects or surroundings, we can identify the deep beauty that resides in every person, place, and thing.”

“...built-up stress is a lot like anger: once you let it get the better of you, it’s hard to regain control of yourself...”

“We have been richly endowed with cognitive and social abilities, but it’s up to us to make the most of them.”

“To maximize your ability to do good in the world, don’t find motivation through anger or bitterness. Allow yourself to be happy, and share your happiness with others.”

“We can choose whether to go with the world the way it is, or be dragged along kicking and screaming.”

“Stoic cosmopolitanism... helps us cultivate a feeling of belonging, wherever we are and whoever we are with.”

“We could all do with a little more civility, a little more grace and graciousness in our lives. There is no shame in being decent, understanding, and non-strident; in fact, that’s where virtue lies.”

“If you struggle with disorder in your actions and environment – if your life is a bit chaotic or unorganized – remind yourself that orderliness starts on the inside.”

“Regardless of how mistaken you believe someone else to be, mocking or abusing them (as Epictetus once said) is not the way to lead them back to the proper path; that will usually just turn them against you even more. ”

“You don’t depend on other people or circumstances for a good life. Instead, you possess the inner resources to find joy whatever you are doing.”

“You have all the raw material to become wise, courageous, self-controlled, fair, and benevolent toward others.”

“So let’s remember, as we look for moral teachers, that while theory is important, so is