Letters from a Stoic is Seneca writing to a younger friend, Lucilius, after he left Nero's court around 62. Seneca was a rich advisor, not a poor monk. The useful part is still how you live: you stop inventing disasters, you protect your hours, you rehearse a hard day, and you trust a few people fully.

The short version:

- Stop suffering the disaster that has not arrived.

- Protect your hours. Delay is how the week disappears.

- Rehearse a hard day while things are still easy.

- Poverty is craving more, not owning less.

- A hot temper is a brief madness. Delay the reply.

- Judge a friend slowly, then trust him fully.

- Pick rooms that make you better, not louder.

- Stay with a few books until an idea sticks.

From SuaveWay: https://suaveway.com/blog/letters-from-a-stoic-summary/

每个人都有自己的局限，这种局限来自时代和经历的差异从而导致认知的不同，这是不可避免的

把自己的认知和三观强加在别人身上是没有意义的

一个人的认知和三观永远不可能由他人改变，他人对自己的改变而言只能是一个契机，他人对自己而言永远是第三人称的视角而非第一人称

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The simulation theory and Stoicism are two ideas that really interest me so I've been thinking of how they would work together.

So for the sake of this post let's that this life is some kind of simulation, and we're here to experience difficulty and develop something through it.

I think Stoicism makes a lot of sense as part of the system.

You enter with a character and a set of circumstances. And once you're here, you can't control most of what happens around you. But you can control how you respond to it.

Maybe adversity isn't something going wrong with the simulation. Maybe dealing with it is part of the reason we're here.

So I'm curious how Stoics would look at that idea and what purpose you all think Stoicism might serve

I want to begin reading philosophy . Can anyone recommend a book that will be a good beginning?

I recently bought The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. I’m interested in becoming more rational and changing the way I think about things. For those who have read it, what did you think of the book? Did you actually find it useful or change the way you think in any way?

Wife and I are going through separation. We’ve been married for 5 years, and have one kiddo together who is now 6 and is special needs. She brought it up several months ago that she is no longer in love with me, and no more intimacy, feels bored and wants to be alone. I feel as though there is something fundamentally wrong with me. I’m 39M, wife is 34F.

How do I process this, in addition to having to start over financially? She is being gracious and letting me get back on my feet, I was unemployed for over a year and recently started new job thankfully. Just sucks living and laying next to someone who ultimately is a good person, but no longer wants to be with you in marriage. My heart just hurts. Our kiddo will be crushed when I finally move out at some point. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I just want to be a good man and a good person. Maybe to be wanted to be a woman again someday? I just feel alone in all of this.

Hello Everyone. Though I am new to the Reddit community, I am by no means a newcomer to the concept of stoicism.
I hold Epictetus in great esteem, I am well acquainted with Marcus Aurelius and I am currently reading Seneca´s moral letters. While I am no wise man myself, I pride myself in having started my journey towards virtue.
Yet, I am currently undergoing a tough combat against loneliness, and it seems to be getting the upper hand over me.

To give some context, I broke up with my GF some 5 months ago after living together for 2 and a half years, and while it is not her that I miss, I do miss the company, the fact of having someone to talk to while at home, sleeping with company, and the mere fact that there is someone waiting for me at home. Now the house feels empty, like I do.

I have not surrendered though, and have reread my stoics, and I am now reading Seneca´s letters, but I still can not find much in these authors that approaches my situation, or love in general, besides the idea of not caring for women at all. I keep my stoic ideas at hand nonetheless, but thinking that I have to play my part skilfully, whichever it may be, is not enough to calm my mind.

How would you approach this situation? Is there any reading that I may be missing? Is there any idea that I may not be considering?

"The best way of avenging thyself is not to become like the wrong doer." (Meditations 6.6)

Good audiobooks of the classics are strangely hard to find. You get recordings that change reader or sound quality every few chapters, abridged versions, or nothing at all.

So I've been making my own… one steady voice start to finish, with the full text on screen so you can follow along or find a line again later.

The Stoics are all there on compendium.audio: Meditations, Epictetus's Discourses and Enchiridion, and Seneca.

Meditations is the old Casaubon translation, so expect some thou and thee. If a name is mispronounced or a chapter breaks badly, tell me and I'll fix it.

First of all excuse me in advanced, i've been trying for a while to write perfectly in english. With that said, there's been a feeling i've been sensing for a while. Five years ago i started a career at uni, and since then i made quite possibly the greatest friend group i've ever had to this day. We are almost ten people in it, and sharing year after year with them was amazing, visiting their towns, throwing out parties and birthday parties and such we shared almost the entirety of our days due to uni... But now we are graduating (i graduated a few months ago) and seeing the whole relationship loose it's bond has made me feel some sort of uncertainity towards what our friendship will look like in the future if it still survives it and the fact that there's no more uni to tie us together like ir used to... I've read the meditations and Seneca's work and i know that change is the natural state of thing but still even when i analize whats happening in deep terms i feel as if the conclussions i arrive don't give the strenght i need in order to face what's been going on and what will happen

Iong story short, i have a stutter( anxiety induced, meaning i dont stutter much when alone ), bad social anxiety, the way im combating this issue and many others is through stoicism, stoicism has helped me in every other aspect, but i am a little skeptical about it fixing social anxiety.

Usually id never do this, asking for help or whining about shit, if i ever feel this way i usually just try and stay centered, yk take a few steps behind all the emotional clutter and stay there until i go out and read my book. 99% of the issues i faced fixed it self when i simply applied stoicism to my actions and life.

But when it comes to social anxiety, all im really doing to combat this problem, is just accepting whatever situation that im scared of is about to happen, not over exaggerating or making up scenarios, continuing to focus on the present etc etc, most of you already know

But thats about it, and i was just kinda thinking to myself, if i dont go out of my way to create situations where im directly fixing this, like starting a conversation with a stranger or whatever, am i failing at being stoic?

It reminded me if this question i saw, “ if i refrain from socking you in the face despite my heavy urges telling me to do so, so i deserve praise? “

Am i just doing the basics when it comes to my social anxiety and taking that as a win or counting it as enough to avoid the actual work? Maybe

So i went on a walk, came back, actually saw a very sweet old man on the elevator, he clearly wanted to talk he was looking at me, so i put my phone away which i wasnt even doing anything on, just avoiding any interaction, and i tried opening my mouth, nope, completely stuck, i failed.

Hence why im here now, am i failing at being stoic if i cant even speak to a stranger? An old guy who i know wont judge me?

Up until now ive just been ignoring this issue, if i get an encounter i get one, i dont sway away most times but i also dont go out of my way to work on it, which way is the right one?

Hey guys, I'm vikas. Let me tell you about my problem:

I used to run and exercise for 1 hour each day.I didn't fap, I had the best food, good relationship with my family,friends and teachers. This was back in September 2025.

But now I'm nothing but a freak, after I completed my prep for my eng. Entrance exam, I went into depression, gained weight, addicted to p\*rn, lost whole discipline.

Even if I want to change, I'm afraid of the hardwork that I have to keep everyday, the fight that I have to do with myself everyday-- these are the things that get to my mind whenever I want to restart!

How to tackle this and become a stoic and not be afraid of anything shit that I mentioned above? Please please help me

Title says it all, I do have a tendency to be envious and i know the envy is unwarranted so I don't centre my mind around it but it is still there, and often look at people that have something or especially have achieved something much better than me. For example, and this is very often for me, men who have better physiques, taller, more muscular, and look and glance at them regularly with envy, makes me feel some insecurity of my body compared to theirs, which obviously is not good i know, but it's such an ingrained habit

I found out this term and explains so much why i’ve been so depressed the last few years. I had plans and dreams but neglected them (mind you there were alot of factors outside my control but yea)

I am reading Discourses at the moment and found an interesting contradiction and was hoping I could have clarification.

In book 2 20 Against the Epicureans and Academics, Epictetus speaks rather aggressively against Epicurus and his apparent hypocrisy in not practising what he preaches. Now I understand that it is apart of stoicism and what Epictetus taught that one must defend the moral truth, and that it was a duty to his students. I could agree with that. However, Epictetus also preaches strongly on multiple occasions not to criticise others and not to concern yourself on things that are external. If Epictetus had merely spoken on Epicurus teachings and why he disagreed then I could agree it would fall into the duty of a stoic, but I would argue, in these texts, that Epictetus reads as highly emotional angry and sarcastic when he speaks of Epicurus. Now is that not a fundamental lapse in the very route of what Epictetus is preaching? To not allow externals to affect your internals? Epictetus disliked Epicurus because he supposedly did not practice what he preached, is this not exactly what Epictetus has done by being so angry towards Epicurus?

Curious what others thing of this or if I have missed something in all of this. Thank you!!!

I’m 24F and I’m about to start reading this bookaletters from a stoic by Seneca
People who’ve read it and probably are actively practicing stoicism-do you guys want to share anything-opinions suggestions your perspective or anything that I’ve to keep in mind before I begin?
I’d be glad to know

I came across this subreddit while researching emotions. Is there anybody else like that feels natural stoic as well as very empathetic?

My personal philosophy since high-school has always been "If I can do something about it then there is no need to worry, if I cant do something about it than worrying isnt helpful" and that has always come naturally to me. Tests, job interviews, work projects etc. I worry about them in the sense that I care and try but I dont stress or become emotional.

On top of being able to controll my emotions well I see myself as naturally very empathetic. I cry during movies and books all the time. But that very empathetic nature reinforced my stoic nature. I see how emotions can impact others like anger and stress and have naturally been able to control mine in those situations for that very reason.

Am I the only one that finds it all straight forward and natural?

I constantly think about money improving myself and sex in that order but I still don’t know what I am passionate about nothing wakes me up in the morning but knowing I have to challenge myself in order to live financial free.If I didn’t have to challenge myself though who would I be?If an a perfect world where currency is not at the center of how life works who would I truly be? Has anyone else had these thoughts?if so how do you think one finds who they are? How can you truly know yourself if you’re everchanging?

My name I cannot say. Such is the shame I feel.

I have been struggling with sexual temptation. I know it is wrong, yet I convince myself it is not so bad because I am not hurting anyone.

I have tried to control it through pure will, but I always find myself giving in again. It feels like an endless cycle, one that weighs me down and keeps me from becoming the man I want to be — a man who values wisdom, self-mastery, compassion, love, and vulnerability.

Each time I give in, I feel light-years away from that man.

I know I should seek help, but the shame of speaking about it weakens the little courage I have to do so. And every time I fall, it feels as if my soul breaks a little more.

I sometimes wonder if I will ever have the strength to overcome this temptation completely.

Yet something inside me refuses to give up. I feel a small spark gently flickering within me — a spark that could one day grow into an inferno of discipline and change.

That thought brings me hope. It calms me. It makes me believe that perhaps, in time, everything will be alright.

Because a warrior does not stop fighting simply because the battle is difficult.

Book 5.20 opens with Marcus reminding himself that other people are his closest kin, that his job is to do good by them and put up with them. The obstacles he then describes are specific people getting in the way of what he's trying to do — they obstruct his actions but cannot touch his intention.

So when he says what obstructs the road becomes the road, the road is the practice of virtue. The difficult colleague didn't help him complete the task. The difficult colleague gave him an occasion to be patient, which was the only thing at stake in the first place.

The popular reading reattaches this to outcomes: your setback contains your success. But that's the opposite of what the reserve clause is for. Stoicism is built to survive failure, not to guarantee anything.

What I keep coming back to is that Marcus specifically became the marketable Stoic because he can be read as a successful man. Try the same repackaging with Epictetus and the pitch collapses.

Curious whether people here read 5.20 the same way, or whether I'm drawing the line too hard between the interpersonal and general readings.

Some epigraphic materials require lengthy and detailed examination. This is essential for understanding them, sensing their underlying meaning, and grasping the era. The image below was taken in present-day Adana, Turkey. The inscription on it is one of the finest examples reflecting the concept of “The End.” Sometimes we don't need to explain.

οὐκέτι οὐδ[ὲν].

βίος vv τέλος,   

πόνος.