#stoicism — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #stoicism, aggregated by home.social.
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"He knows his own strength; he knows that he was born to carry burdens."
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"These actions are not essentially difficult; it is we ourselves that are soft and flabby."
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"Why should I not regard this as desirable—not because the fire, burns me, but because it does not overcome me?"
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"“I should prefer that Fortune keep me in her camp rather than in the lap of luxury. If I am tortured, but bear it bravely, all is well; if I die, but die bravely, it is also well.”"
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"Clothe yourself with a hero’s courage, and withdraw for a little space from the opinions of the common man. Form a proper conception of the image of virtue, a thing of exceeding beauty and grandeur; this image is not to be worshipped by us with incense or garlands, but with sweat and blood."
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"It would be some consolation for the feebleness of ourselves and our works, if all things should perish as slowly as they come into being; but as it is, increases are of sluggish growth, but the way to ruin is rapid."
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Not a single thing that is done on earth happens without you, God,
Nor in the divine heavenly sphere nor in the sea,
Except for what bad people do in their foolishness.— Cleanthes
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"Growth is slow but collapse is rapid."
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"You have, dearest Serene, things that can protect tranquility, things that restore it, things that resist creeping escapes. Be it known, however, that none of these things is sufficient for those who hold a feeble matter, unless a constant concern surrounds the slipping mind."
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"You have, dearest Serene, things that can protect tranquility, things that restore it, things that resist creeping escapes. Be it known, however, that none of these things is sufficient for those who hold a feeble matter, unless a constant concern surrounds the slipping mind."
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"You have, dearest Serene, things that can protect tranquility, things that restore it, things that resist creeping escapes. Be it known, however, that none of these things is sufficient for those who hold a feeble matter, unless a constant concern surrounds the slipping mind."
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"You have, dearest Serene, things that can protect tranquility, things that restore it, things that resist creeping escapes. Be it known, however, that none of these things is sufficient for those who hold a feeble matter, unless a constant concern surrounds the slipping mind."
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"You have, dearest Serene, things that can protect tranquility, things that restore it, things that resist creeping escapes. Be it known, however, that none of these things is sufficient for those who hold a feeble matter, unless a constant concern surrounds the slipping mind."
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"To the rational being only the irrational is unendurable, but the rational is endurable."
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"To the rational being only the irrational is unendurable, but the rational is endurable."
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"To roam in open walks, that the soul may increase and lift itself up in the free air and with much spirit; sometimes travel and a change of country will give vigor, and marriage and more liberal drink. Sometimes even to the point of drunkenness, not that it drowns us, but that it depresses us: for it washes away cares and moves the mind from below, and, as with certain diseases, so it heals sadness."
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"The mind must be indulged, and leisure must be given from time to time, which is the place of food and strength."
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"These reasonings are unconnected: "I am richer than you, therefore I am better"; "I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am better." The connection is rather this: "I am richer than you, therefore my property is greater than yours;" "I am more eloquent than you, therefore my style is better than yours." But you, after all, are neither property nor style. (44)."
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The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.
— Epictetus
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"Anger, as we have said, is eager to punish; and that such a desire should exist in man’s peaceful breast is least of all according to his nature; for human life is founded on benefits and harmony and is bound together into an alliance for the common help of all, not by terror, but by love towards one another."
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My Gumroad Shop:
Unlock a world of digital creativity with my Gumroad store, offering unique products like worksheets and oracle cards that inspire and captivate.https://princess370.wordpress.com/2026/08/06/my-gumroad-shop/
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I have also read "Let Them" by Mel Robbins but am not sure I can recommend. It spoke to me in some aspects, left me shrugging shoulders in others. Nothing revolutionary, but it might be a good book for emotionally tougher times in life. Offers clear guidelines on how to stop pestering others and just letting them be.
In other words: stoicism for perfectionist women, I'd say.
#Bookstodon #Book
#LetThem
#MelRobbins
#SelfHelpBooks
#Stoicism
#Perfectionism -
“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”*…
Stoicism is having a moment. The estimable Timothy Snyder considers the events of the day in the light of Marcus Aurelius‘ thoughts– and actions…
As Donald Trump announced his whimsy war in Iran, I was reading about another imperial campaign, long ago, against an Iranian people.
In the late second century AD, the Roman Empire confronted armies that had crossed the border at the Danube River and even broached the Alps in northern Italy. Among them were the Iazyges, speakers of an Iranian language, who hailed from the Ukrainian steppe.
In Ukraine this February, I was learning about an archaeological find which reveals the interactions of the Romans and the Iazyges, which included alliance as well as enmity. The Roman war against the Iazyges allies was commanded personally by Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who spent the years between 171 and 180 AD at the front. During that time he kept a philosophical diary, probably written at night in his tent. Discovered after his death, that text, known as the Meditations, is a great work of Stoic philosophy.
I turned to the Meditations to see if I could learn anything that would help me to understand the work of Ukrainian archaeologists about the interactions between Romans and Iazyges. I found something else: perspective on the wars of today, and a sense of why, beyond his obvious incompetence in military matters, Trump had to lose his.
It was shaming to read the bombast of Trump: (”no president was willing to do what I have done tonight”) alongside the reflections of Marcus (“when things have such a plausible appearance, show them naked, see their shoddiness, strip away their own boastful account of themselves.”) Trump broadcast his arrogance to millions of people; Marcus wrote for himself.
Despite the fact he was commanding an army at the front, Marcus never mentioned the war in his Meditations. War was simply something he had to do; he had no difficulty seeing the other side as people, or understanding their motivations. He mentions the Iazyges only once in the text: to make a broader point about hubris, to suggest that it was wrong for Romans to take pride in taking a prisoner of war.
Although Marcus did not broach the subject of my interest, I could not stop reading his Meditations. The contrast with Trump’s utterances was astounding, and vertiginous. The one could spend nine years in command and write a philosophical diary in which he did not even mention the war; the other immediately leapt to praise himself for a war he would lose in weeks…
[With an focus on the “adventure in Iran,” Snyder elaborates the (painfully unflattering) comparison…]
… The American leaders had no idea of who they were or what they wanted, aside from the satisfaction of their emotional needs by the killing of others. They were unable to imagine that people on the other side might have ideas about their own interests and plans for their own behavior. The could not see the world, even in its plainest representation as geography; whereas Marcus exploited a bend in the Danube River to tactical advantage to win a battle; Trump chose to ignore the physical limit the Straits of Hormuz can place on world trade. As soon as the war began, the Iranians did the obvious: they responded to American long-range attacks with the same; and they blocked the Straits.
Because the Americans were operating without a sense of themselves, of the world, or other people, this came as a surprise. Marcus Aurelius offers this mild comment: “How absurd — and a complete stranger to the world– is the man surprised at any aspect of his experience in life!”
The Americans, strangers to the world, reacted to their feelings of surprise with fantasies of destruction. The pleasure they took in killing became a vision of annihilation. Rather than confront the errors they made about war, the Americans leapt to visions of violence in which no one would ever have to think again. Trump lost control on Easter Sunday when he tweeted: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.” He then promised that he would bomb Iran “back to the Stone Age, where they belong” and said that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” In our modern legal and ethical language, this is of course genocidal language. The American bombast was followed by American surrender.
Marcus Aurelius won his war against the Iazyges. He combined victory and prudence, and for this he was and will be remembered. The defeated Iazyges returned to their previous role as Roman clients, offered thousands of cavalrymen as soldiers of Rome, and opened trade routes to the east. Marcus’s philosophical diary has been read for the better part of two millenia; so long as we are present as a literate civilization, it will be read. Despite Marcus’s certainty that we will all be forgotten, others built a victory column in his honor after his death; it still stands in Rome, more than one thousand eight hundred years later.
Another legacy of Marcus’s victory also touches the center of what we think of as Western culture. As part of the peace accord, he dispatched 5,500 Iazyges cavalrymen, taken into his service, to the north of what is now northern England, to defend the Roman border at Hadrian’s Wall. Their first commander was a man named Arthur, and it is possible that the Iazyges and some of their Iranian-speaking kin incorporated his name into stories of their own — of a lady in the lake, of a sword in a stone, of a quest for a golden cup — which, with time, became the legend of Christian chivalry. That is another story, and one worth telling.
But it is also part of the story of Marcus Aurelius, which, despite the fact that he chose not to tell it himself, or rather precisely for that reason, is instructive about our predicament today. Stoicism is a way not to be a stranger to the world; it can protect the powerful from vanity and folly. To fall into a stupor of self-absorption, as Trump has done, is to flee from reality. Few wars are worth fighting; those that are fought can only be won in the world, and not within the tortured confines of estranged minds. Trump hastens now towards our shared horizon of death, seeking honors that only posterity can accord and will not…
On what Trump could– and should– learn from Marcus Aurelius: “Of Stoicism and Stupor,” from @timothysnyder.bsky.social.
“We are the other of the other”
“Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?”
“Kindness is invincible.”
– Marcus Aurelius
(TotH to MKM)
* Marcus Aurelius
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As we barrel back to basics, we might recall that it was on this date in 1956 that Elvis Presley, working for the first time with backing vocal group the Jordanaires, recorded “Don’t Be Cruel,” which had been written by Otis Blackwell.
The single was released on July 13, 1956, backed with “Hound Dog.” Within a few weeks “Hound Dog” had risen to No. 2 on the Pop charts with sales of over one million. Soon after it was overtaken by “Don’t Be Cruel,” which took No. 1 on all three main charts; Pop, Country, and R&B. Between them, both songs remained at No. 1 on the Pop chart for a run of 11 weeks. “Don’t Be Cruel” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2004, it was ranked No. 197 in Rolling Stone’s list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
#culture #DonTBeCruel #ElvisPresley #history #HoundDog #Iran #Jordanaires #MarcusAurelius #moralPhilosophy #OtisBlackwell #philosophy #politics #stoicism #TimothySnyder #Trump -
https://www.fogolf.com/1261462/charley-hull-is-the-latest-tour-pro-to-dive-into-this-popular-school-of-philosophy-heres-how-it-works-in-golf-australian-golf-digest/ Charley Hull is the latest tour pro to dive into this popular school of philosophy. Here’s how it works in golf – Australian Golf Digest #article #CharleyHull #Golf #GolfDigest #GolfNews #news #philosophy #stoicism
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KARMA – YOUR PERSONAL FAnTASY
Ask ten people what karma means and you get ten answers, none of which goes against them personally. It means whatever the person using it needs it to mean right now. The most popular version of Karma is: be good, get good. The universe is keeping score. Don't worry about the man who cheated you out of your property. He'll get his. Well, he won't. He'll get a second property if he manages the first one well. Then there's the Gita version: do your duty, don't expect results. Great idea, […]https://ridiculousbharath.wordpress.com/2026/05/08/karma-your-personal-fantasy/
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Are you living your life on auto-pilot? It’s easy to get caught in the slipstream of daily routines, but there is a certain magic in taking the controls and choosing to be here now.
This vintage biplane design is more than just aviation art; it’s a call to action for anyone who loves intentional living and the thrill of the open sky. Whether you are a pilot, a travel lover, or someone practicing mindfulness, this retro airplane illustration serves as a visual anchor to stay grounded in the moment.
Inspired by classic flight school aesthetics and minimalist typography, this piece looks incredible on a graphic tee, framed art print, or a minimalist hoodie. Stop drifting through the clouds of "tomorrow" and start navigating your "today." ✈️
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#AviationArt ✈️ #VintageBiplane 🛩️ #Mindfulness 🧘 #BeHereNow ✨ #PilotLife 👨✈️ #RetroAesthetic 📺 #IntentionalLiving 🌿 #AirplaneLovers ☁️ #GiftForPilots 🎁 #GraphicDesign 🎨 #TravelInspiration 🌍 #VintageStyle 📽️ #NoAutoPilot 🚫 #Presence 🕰️ #AviationDaily 🛫 #AdventureQuotes 🗺️ #MinimalistArt 🖼️ #FlightSchool 🏫 #MentalClarity 🧠 #ClassicAircraft 🏛️ #WallArtDecor 🏠 #TshirtDesign 👕 #Stoicism 🏛️ #PropellerPlane 🌀 #StayPresent 📍
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https://joselorochaart.dashery.com/products/91489862-no-auto-pilot-be-here-t-shirt
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A quotation from Marcus Aurelius
Accept modestly; surrender gracefully.
[Ἄτύφως μὲν λαβεῖν, εὐλύτως δὲ ἀφεῖναι.]Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 6, ch. 33 (8.33) (AD 161-180) [tr. Staniforth (1964)]More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/marcus-aureleus/8313…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #marcusaurelius #marcusaureliusmeditations #acceptance #arrogance #badfortune #badluck #deserving #fortune #goodfortune #goodluck #grace #gracefulness #grudge #humbleness #humility #letitgo #modesty #pride #receive #reception #resignation #stoicism #surrender
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A quotation from Marcus Aurelius
Wherein, then, is your grievance? You are not ejected from the city [life] by any unjust judge or tyrant, but by the selfsame Nature which brought you into it; just as when an actor is dismissed by the manager who engaged him.
“But I have played no more than three of the five acts.” Just so; in your drama of life, three acts are all the play. Its point of completeness is determined by him who formerly sanctioned your creation, and today sanctions your dissolution. Neither of those decisions lay within yourself.
Pass on your way, then, with a smiling face, under the smile of him who bids you go.
[τί οὖν δεινόν, εἰ τῆς πόλεως ἀποπέμπει σε οὐ τύραννος οὐδὲ δικαστὴς ἄδικος, ἀλλ̓ ἡ φύσις ἡ εἰσαγαγοῦσα, οἷον εἰ κωμῳδὸν ἀπολύοι τῆς σκηνῆς ὁ παραλαβὼν στρατηγός;—ἀλλ̓ οὐκ εἶπον τὰ πέντε μέρη, ἀλλὰ τὰ τρία.—καλῶς εἶπας: ἐν μέντοι τῷ βίῳ τὰ τρία ὅλον τὸ δρᾶμά ἐστι. τὸ γὰρ τέλειον ἐκεῖνος ὁρίζει ὁ τότε μὲν τῆς συγκρίσεως. νῦν δὲ τῆς διαλύσεως αἴτιος: σὺ δὲ ἀναίτιος ἀμφοτέρων. ἄπιθι οὖν ἵλεως: καὶ γὰρ ὁ ἀπολύων ἵλεως.]Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 12, ch. 36 (12.36) (AD 161-180) [tr. Staniforth (1964)]More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/marcus-aureleus/8281…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #marcusaurelius #actor #curtain #death #departure #direction #drama #exit #grace #gracefulexit #life #lifespan #living #mortality #peace #purpose #serenity #stage #stoicism
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To the world, the Oak is merely fodder for the hearth or an obstacle to "renewal."
But the Oak is a survivor. While we overheat in discourse, it cools the air. It heals by connecting, refusing to be bent by the crimes committed against it.
Stop with the wisdom of the Gretas. Put aside your sociology degrees.
The Oak is the true manifesto for a complex society—Read on: https://library.profpeter.my/paper-trails/mastodon-short/true-science-of-the-oak
#Nature #Philosophy #Stoicism #DeepTime #BiologyOverIdeology #EcologicalWisdom #Society
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Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day.
— Markus Zusak
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I am a straight, cis-gendered, past middle-aged guy, but I have to say that Ms. McBride is a real hero to me. She is the real-life embodiment of Marcus Aurelius' statement that the best revenge is to not be like the ones who wrong you. #sarahmcbride #stoicism #philosophy
https://mastodon.social/@randahl/113970334387159825 -
The Resilience of Adversity: Lessons from Seneca #Stoicism #Resilience #OvercomeAdversity #SenecaWisdom #StoicStrength #GrowthThroughChallenges ⏩ https://shorturl.at/IsS25
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Daily Reflections Inspired by Marcus Aurelius for a Meaningful Existence #Stoicism #MarcusAurelius #StoicReflections #DailyMindfulness #MeaningfulLiving #StoicWisdom ⏩ https://tinyurl.com/3x92vt8z
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3 Stoic Secrets to Master Your Emotions #Stoicism #EmotionalControl #MindsetMastery ⏩ https://youtu.be/B8-Bm2h0Sls
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Identifying Toxic People in 1 Minute (Stoically) #StoicWisdom #ToxicPeopleDetector #InnerPeace #VirtueEthics #EmotionalIntelligence #BoundariesAreBeautiful #StoicStrength #MindfulLiving #Stoicism ⏩ Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/2vnerewb
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Stoic Resilience: 6 Quotes to Turn Pain into Power #StoicResilience #PaintoPower #MarcusAurelius #Epictetus #Seneca #StoicWisdom #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #Resilience #OvercomingObstacles #Stoicism ⏩ Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/3n5xmxyv
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Mastering Stoicism: How this ancient philosophy can help you say no to modern distractions #Stoicism #StayFocused #AncientWisdom #ModernPeace #StoicStrength #IntentionalLiving ⏩ Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/stksjetm
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The Philosophy of Stoic Gratitude #StoicPhilosophy #Gratitude #PersonalGrowth #MindsetShift #MeaningfulLiving #Stoicism ⏩ Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/4dras746
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Mindful Practices for Stoic Living #mindfulness #stoicism #presentmoment #rationallife #equanimity #meditation #marcusaurelius #epictetus #natureappreciation #wholeheartedliving ⏩ Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/48eaamwv
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Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day.
— Markus Zusak
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“I used to resent obstacles along the path, thinking, ‘If only that hadn’t happened, life would be so good.’
Then I suddenly realized, life is the obstacles. There is no underlying path.”
— Janna Levin
Janna Levin on Extra Dimensions, Time Travel, and How to Overcome Boots in the Face (#445)
#quote #stoicism #overcomingobstacles
https://tim.blog/2020/07/08/janna-levin/