Stoicism.
I know I’ve talked about it before here on Medium, but it’s such an interesting topic I had to write about it once again.
So, let's get started, and talk about some famous stoics.
It's a philosophy that dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, with an emphasis on rationality, self-control, and resilience. And though it's often mistaken to be a philosophy that "glorifies" apathy or emotional detachment, in reality, it's a way of life. A way of life that helps develop greater self-awareness and a higher sense of purpose. No more, no less.
The first of the famous stoics on our list is the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. He was a philosopher and leader who believed in living a life of virtue and self-discipline. His book Meditations is considered one of the greatest works of stoic philosophy, and in it was written what would eventually become some of the most famous quotes across the entire English language;
“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
-Marcus Aurelius.
Another example of a famous stoic is the Greek philosopher Epictetus. He was born a slave, and then became one of the most influential thinkers of his time.
Quite a step up, don’t you think?
He taught that individuals should focus on what is within their control and let go of things outside of their control - one of the more popular elements of stoic philosophy, often raised in films like Fight Club (1999).
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
-Epictetus.
Stoicism is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one's own life. The last famous stoic we'll discuss here embodied this principle; the philosopher and statesman, Seneca. He wrote extensively on this subject of self-improvement and how to lead a meaningful life - something that's still being debated (extensively) today.
“It's not because things are difficult that we dare not venture."
-Seneca.
Special thanks to for sharing this post, and making it my most popular article in under 2 hours! An incredible guy!
I’ll see you all tommorow —don’t forget to leave a clap!
If you would like to help support further TTO publications, please consider donating to our GoFundMe!
