What is The Daily Stoic?
The Daily Stoic is a book written by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. It is comprised of quotes of the ancient stoics. For each month there is a theme. For each Day there is a quote and for each quote there is an interpretation or explanation written by the authors of this book.
The front of the book describes it as, “366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living.”
Part 1 Perception
January: Clarity
As the title says January is focused on clarity. The main ideas involving clarity are:
- Only worrying about things in your control
- Differentiating good from evil
- Not letting our impulses control us
- The goodness in work
- Our freedom of choice
- Clarity of thought
- Don’t place value on possessions
February: Passions and Emotions
“The good are virtues and all that share in them; the bad are the vices and all that indulge them, the indifferent lie in between virtue and vice and include wealth, health, life, death, pleasure, and pain.” – Epictetus
During February the daily readings were focused on passions and emotions. For the most part it was about not letting them control you which is a massive problem that many people have today. Let’s look at some of the main points regarding passions and emotions:
- Anger: “it isn’t manly to be enraged… A real man doesn’t give way to anger and discontent..the nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.” – Marcus Aurelius
- Fear: Many are harmed by fear itself, and many have come to their fate while dreading fate.” – Seneca
- Pain/Sadness: “You cry, I’m suffering severe pain! Are you then relieved from feeling it, if you bear it in an unmanly way?” – Seneca
- Happiness: “Happiness has all that it wants, and resembling the well-fed there shouldn’t be hunger or thirst.” – Epictetus
- “You won’t let yourself be enslaved by this any longer, no longer pulled like a puppet by every impulse, and you’ll stop complaining about your present fortune or dreading the future.” – Marcus Aurelius
- “Who then is invincible? The one who cannot be upset by anything outside their reasoned choice.” – Epictetus
- In your passions remember to practice temperance. Neither taking too much or accepting too little.
- “Don’t set your heart on so many things and you will get what you need.” – Epictetus
March: Awareness
“An important place to begin in philosophy is this: a clear perception of one’s own ruling principle” – Epictetus
You must know what your values and principles are before you can make any effort to follow them.
“In public avoid talking often and excessively about your accomplishments and dangers, .. it’s not so pleasant for others to hear about your affairs” – Epictetus
“.. Yet you hand over your mind to anyone who comes along – have you no shame in that?” – Epictetus
Don’t give others power of your mind and your emotions.
“From good people you’ll learn good, but if you mingle with the bad you’ll destroy such soul as you had.” – Musonius Rufus, quoting Theognis
Hang around good influences
“.. Anyone who can be restricted, coerced, or pushed into something against what they will is a slave” – Epictetus
“.. The present moment lasts that same for all and is all anyone possesses.” – Marcus Aurelius
“.. If your choices are beautiful, so to will you be.” – Epictetus
Summary: You must be aware of your guiding principles and follow them always. Be aware of how your behaviors effect others. Don’t give others power over you. Live in the present as it’s all we really have.
April: Unbiased Thought
“Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought, for the human spirit is colored by such perceptions.” – Marcus Aurelius
This is a long one, but it’s one of my favorite quotes:
“When you first rise in the morning tell yourself: I will encounter busybodies, ingrates, egomaniacs, liars, the jealous, and cranks. They are all stricken with these afflictions because they don’t know the difference between good and evil. Because I have understood the beauty of good and the ugliness of evil, I know that these wrong-doers are still akin to me… and that none can do me harm, or implicate me in ugliness– nor an I be angry at my relatives or hate them. For we are made for cooperation.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 2.1
This one is great for when you have to deal with difficult people in life. To not let them do you harm and to still love them. It is a difficult practice, but this quote definitely helps me.
“It isn’t events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgements about them.” – Epictetus, Enchiridion, 5
“Throw out your conceited opinions, for it is impossible for a person to begin to learn what he thinks he already knows.” – Epictetus, Discourses, 2.17.1
If you already know everything, what can you learn?
“Turn it inside out and see what it is like… and the whole earth is but a mere speck.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 8.21
Approach everything trying to understand and realize that everyone sees things from a different pair of eyes and experiences. Your problems are small in comparison to the earth and the earth is but a speck in the universe.
“What is bad luck? Opinion. What are conflict, dispute, blame, accusation, irreverence, and frivolity? They are all opinions, and more than that they are opinions that lie outside of our own reasoned choice, presented as if they were good or evil. Let a person shift their opinions only to what belongs in the field of their own choice, and I guarantee that person will have peace of mind, whatever is happening around them.” -Epictetus, Discourses, 3.3.18b-19
Let these opinions go and you will not be upset as much.
“… For we must be content to at least escape a few mistakes by never letting our attention slide.” – Epictetus, Discourses, 4.12.1; 19
Be attentive and less problems will arise in your life.
Summary: April is all about not letting your opinions about external events control you. It is not helpful to have an opinion about everything. In fact, it is quite exhausting. Stay attentive and be open minded and your life will be much easier and more fulfilling.
Part 2: The Discipline of Action
May: Right Action
“First, tell yourself what type of person you want to be, then do what you have to do.” – Epictetus, Discourses 3.23.1-2a
It’s that simple. Decide what you want to be in life and what kind of character you’d like to have, then get to work.
“Then what makes a beautiful human being? Isn’t it the presence of human excellence? Young friend, if you wish to be beautiful, then work diligently at human excellence… In making yourself that kind of person, you will become beautiful–but to the extent you ignore these qualities, you’ll be ugly, even if you use every trick in the book to appear beautiful.” – Epictetus, Discourses, 3.1.6b-9
Excellence = Beauty
“God laid down this law, saying: if you want some good, get it from yourself.” – Epictetus, Discourses, 1.29.4
“The greatest portion of peace of mind is doing nothing wrong. Those who lack self-control live disoriented and disturbed lives.” – Seneca, Moral Letters, 105.7
“Kindness is invincible” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 11.18.5.9a
“Every habit and capability is confirmed and grows in its corresponding actions, walking by walking and running by running… therefore if you want to do something make a habit of it… The same principle is at work in our state of mind. When you get angry you’ve not only experienced that evil, but you’ve also reinforced a bad habit, adding fuel to the fire.” – Epictetus, Discourses, 2.18.1-5
Summary: The reading for May are focused on doing the right things. Strive towards excellence, show kindness, practice good habits, and stay away from evil.
It’s that simple. Be a good person, do what’s right, and don’t be afraid to work for what you want.
I am trying my best to always do what’s right and what we know we should do, it can be a struggle when things get tough, but I have found that even when I don’t feel like doing the work, I will be much happier if I just do it anyways rather than shirking my duties.